This Pakistani lady has spent the past 30 years here and in her country helping women and the needy. Her Mauritian husband has just retired and she now wants to spend time and see the world with him.

When Naheed arrived in Mauritius in 1973, like most expatriates, she found it hard to settle down. But then life got easier, especially as she could speak many languages - English, Punjabi and Urdu. Then, it took her two months to start speaking Creole. Hers is so good that it would be hard to guess she is of Pakistani origin.

Naheed’s personality has several facets. Her friendliness and unselfishness are obvious. She is a straightforward person, who likes what she likes. However, she remains a very humble woman. She has different ways of spending her time. Cooking Pakistani food is her speciality. If she has time, she reads all kinds of books, mainly novels and poems. She also enjoys swimming.

Naheed’s adventure took on a greater dimension when her husband was appointed ambassador of Mauritius in Pakistan. Naheed made history there, as it was the first time that a Pakistani woman was married to an ambassador based in Pakistan. But, on the other hand, Naheed’s fight to help people continued as she joined and became the treasurer of the Islamabad Women’s Association. As such, she helped women in hospitals and schools.

“We indulged in social work such as handling the day-to-day running of a ward for handicapped children. To get money, we organised fashion shows, coffee mornings where women shared their experiences with other women. This provided me with a sense of purpose in life, reaching out for the needy and making these little tweaks, which have a significant impact on people’s lives.”

However, helping people was not something new. Naheed was involved in social groups even when she was in Mauritius. She contributed a lot in the village council of Notre Dame by helping mainly women. “We have been very blessed by the Almighty and it is just normal that we reach out for the needy. True, it’s better to give someone a fishing rod rather than fish but there are little things that we can do at all levels to make the lives of the less fortunate more serene. And it is not only me giving out to these people; I gain so much from them too!”

Naheed was born in Punjab on 9th September 1952. Her father was in the army, while her mother was a headmistress in a primary school. Naheed left Pakistan when she had just finished college. This is the reason why she states very firmly: “By law I am Mauritian, but at heart I am Pakistani!” She married Fareed in 1972 in Pakistan after they met in Australia. They have three children, all of whom are now married.

When she talks about the future, she remains smiling and is quite optimistic even if she does not work and neither does her husband anymore. “Now that my husband is retired, I just want to make the most of it. I want to spend time with him. And, furthermore, I would love to travel with him to several countries. I want to go and see the world…”