Shaniera Akram takes stage with Pakistani students celebrating Independence Day

KARACHI: Batting for women empowerment, Shaniera Akram, the wife of former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, has encouraged girls to be the best in whatever field they opt for as career.

Shaniera, Australia-born patriotic Pakistani as describes by herself, joined girls at Jinnah University for Women on Thursday to celebrate 70 years of Pakistan’s independence.

“It’s a great day,” Shaniera said as she wore eastern attire depicting Pakistan’s colors with national flag painted on her face.

She encouraged girls of the country to believe in themselves and said that to encourage women is the best road to women empowerment.

“The only road to women empowerment is to encourage women to believe in themselves. When you truly believe in yourself, right down deep in your heart, you can do anything,” she said.

“No matter what you want to do in life, whether it's building cities, curing disease or being a wife and a mother you need to believe in yourself and be the best person you can be, whatever road you choose, make it count,” she added.

“It's a great time to be a woman in Pakistan. We have access to a wider variety of information, better technology, increasing opportunities and much greater respect than ever before. Women now hold the key to their future, it's what we choose to do with it that will make all the difference,” Shaniera said.

She also joined students on stage to dance on various national songs to celebrate Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day.

The “national bhabhi” (as she is addressed by many fans on Twitter) said it was a proud moment for her to celebrate the day with Pakistani youngsters.

“People are the heart and soul of this country, and when you are with a crowd of excited young people celebrating being a part of the country the energy is electric. I was really proud to be here today,” she said while addressing the students.

“I believe something that has been given to you is never as truly rewarding as something that has been honestly earned. There is no better feeling than an honest day of hard work, that's success in itself,” she added.