Pakistani activist Mahnoor Omer honoured on TIME’s annual Women of the Year list

Pakistani activist and lawyer Mahnoor Omer has been recognised as one of 16 women leaders featured on TIME’s annual Women of the Year list, which celebrates individuals working toward a fairer and more equitable world. At 25, Omer has spent the past decade advocating for gender equity, including challenging Pakistan’s so-called “period tax,” which makes sanitary products unaffordable for millions of women and girls.

Reflecting on the honour, Omer recalled a personal anecdote from her teenage years: at 17, she created her own version of TIME magazine for her mother’s 40th birthday, a gift she still cherishes. “I could never have imagined that one day I would see my own name and photo on the pages of TIME,” she said.

From Teenage Activist to Legal Advocate

Omer’s activism began at 14, when she founded the Noor Foundation after feeling dissatisfied with an NGO’s efforts to educate girls on sexual violence. She organised workshops in rural villages covering topics from climate change to menstruation. A few years later, a conversation with a domestic worker about the high cost of pads and tampons highlighted the inequity of access—especially in areas where products were scarce or prohibitively expensive. UNICEF estimates only 12% of women in Pakistan use commercially produced pads or tampons, with many relying on cloth, which can cause infections and prevent girls from attending school.

A law graduate and current master’s student in gender, peace, and security at the London School of Economics, Omer filed a landmark petition challenging the period tax last September. The case had its first hearing at the end of 2025 and is awaiting a government response. She credited her lawyer Ahsan Jehangir Khan for his dedication and support in the case.

Advocacy, Recognition, and the Road Ahead

Omer said the TIME recognition reflects the limitless potential of Pakistani women and inspires her to continue fighting injustice. “I’m not free until every woman is free. I want to leave no stones unturned in terms of what I can do—as a lawyer for the women in my country and gender minorities in general,” she said. She added that the award is a reminder of the progress made and the work that remains to ensure equal opportunities for women across Pakistan.