KP medical student from humble background wins 17 gold medals

PESHAWAR: The daughter of a tailor from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has won a record 17 gold medals at a medical college in Peshawar, drawing widespread applause at a graduation ceremony and highlighting the growing achievements of women in higher education in the country.

Qandeel Murtaza, a student at Khyber Girls Medical College, received the medals for outstanding academic performance during the college’s convocation.

As her name was announced, the hall erupted in applause while KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi presented her medals on stage.

Qandeel Murtaza, who hails from district Haripur, is the daughter of a tailor and said her family had always prioritised education despite financial challenges.

Speaking to local media, her father said that one of his daughters serves as a grade-17 officer in Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, while another completed a PhD and is working in Islamabad.

He said that his son has earned an engineering degree, while another daughter is also studying at a medical college.

Two other students at the ceremony also received multiple honours. Student Muqaddas won 10 gold medals, while Sabeen secured seven.

The achievements drew praise on social media, where users described the students as an inspiration for young women pursuing higher education in Pakistan.

Pakistan has seen a steady rise in female enrolment in universities and professional colleges in recent years, particularly in medicine, where women now make up a significant proportion of graduates in several institutions.