Maleeha Lodhi

Maleeha Lodhi, born on November fifteenth, nineteen fifty-three, is a distinguished Pakistani diplomat, journalist, and political scientist. She made history as the first woman to serve as Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, a role she assumed in February two thousand fifteen. Her career is marked by significant contributions to diplomacy and journalism, showcasing her expertise on the global stage.

Raised in Lahore in an upper-middle-class family, Lodhi pursued her education in political science at the prestigious London School of Economics, where she earned her doctorate in nineteen eighty. Following her academic achievements, she joined the Department of Government at LSE, teaching political sociology before returning to Pakistan in nineteen eighty-six to become the editor of The Muslim, making her the first woman to edit a national newspaper in Asia.

Her diplomatic journey began in nineteen ninety when she was appointed as Pakistan's envoy to the United States by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, a position she held until nineteen ninety-seven. After a brief hiatus, she returned to the role in nineteen ninety-nine under President Musharraf, serving until two thousand two. Lodhi's tenure as High Commissioner to the UK from two thousand three to two thousand eight further solidified her reputation as a leading diplomat.

In addition to her diplomatic roles, Lodhi has been recognized for her contributions to international relations, serving on the United Nations Secretary General's Advisory Board on Disarmament from two thousand one to two thousand five. She has received numerous accolades, including the Hilal-i-Imtiaz for Public Service and honorary fellowships from the London School of Economics and the London Metropolitan University.

As an author, Lodhi has penned two significant works, 'Pakistan: The External Challenge' and 'Pakistan's Encounter with Democracy,' and edited 'Pakistan: Beyond the Crisis State' in two thousand ten. Her influence extends beyond diplomacy, as she has been named an international scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center and recognized by Time magazine as one of the hundred people shaping the twenty-first century.