A British-Pakistani Muslim woman has been appointed as female captain for the British Royal Navy.
“The first ever female Muslim and Pakistani in the world to get promoted as the Hon Captain Royal Navy. An announcement was made on Thursday 8th July 2021,” Durdana Ansari wrote on Twitter, The Express Tribune reported.
📚 Read Also: Meet One of First American Muslims to Command US Naval Ship
Ansari is a British entrepreneur, a former charity director, journalist, presenter and producer for 22 years at the BBC World Service.
Born in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, she grew up in Islamabad before moving to London where she received her degree in media and journalism from Birkbeck University.
In 2012, she received an Order of the British Empire for creating economic development program for Muslim women.
She also serves as a Brand Ambassador to Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST), the Swat Relief Initiative (SRI), and as a trustee for ‘Quest for Education’ (QFE).
The former BBC current affairs producer was previously awarded an OBE by the queen.
The appointment has been widely hailed on social media by many, on top of whom is Ansari’s nephew Pakistan’s Singer-songwriter Asim Azhar.
As a Pakistani British female you make me proud. May Allah swt reward (Ameen) #femaleempowerment
— Sadia (@misssadiasaleem) July 14, 2021
We are proud of you ma’am. Good job!
— Rubina Raheel (@raheel_rubina) July 14, 2021
Feels really good to see Pakistanis shining abroad. Way to go maam Durdana you’re pride of Pakistan 🇵🇰♥️🇵🇰💯
— Irfan Tariq (@IrfanTariq_IT) July 15, 2021