In a groundbreaking achievement, a team of female engineers has successfully installed a 24-kilowatt solar system on the roof of Karachi’s Hussaini Orphanage—the first project of its kind in Pakistan’s history. This pioneering effort was part of the Ladies Fund Energy initiative, designed to empower female engineers and integrate women into the energy sector.
The installation was completed by five outstanding engineers—Areeba Rashid, Iman Batool, Farhan Anjum, Muskan Iqbal, and Rahemeen Haider Ali—who are now recognized as official installers for Ladies Fund Energy. With the support of KfW DEG Impuls and Develop, these engineers have become the first women in Pakistan to be paid for solar roof work.
The project was led by the Dawood Global Foundation (DGF) in partnership with Ladies Fund Energy Pvt. Ltd. It included the installation of six lithium batteries and was the first-ever solar roof installation in the country carried out entirely by women. The engineers involved were certified and trained at NED University, where they also participated in roles as both interns and installers.
Dr. Mohsin Aman provided internationally recognized “Solar Roof Installation” training at NED University, while Ladies Fund Energy designed a high-quality solar roof specifically for the orphanage. The success of this initiative has sparked widespread interest, with 86 female engineers currently waitlisted for future courses. DGF plans to extend this training to girls from interior Sindh in the next phase.
Tara Azra Dawood, CEO of Ladies Fund Energy, emphasized the dual goals of the initiative: to train and recruit female engineers for the Ladies Fund, and to position them as key players in the broader energy sector. She encouraged more women to participate in this transformative initiative, which not only enhances women’s representation in the field but also contributes to a greener Pakistan. She expressed her gratitude to Hussaini Orphanage for entrusting the female engineers with this important task.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, the chief guest at the ceremony, expressed his pride in Karachi’s dynamic female engineers. He recognized them as the pioneering installers of Ladies Fund Energy and pledged to provide land and funds for training 100 female engineers at NED University through DGF, in collaboration with the government and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). Mayor Wahab also granted Ladies Fund Energy the opportunity to pitch their tender for the solarization of KMC buildings.
This achievement marks a significant step forward for women in Pakistan’s energy sector and sets a powerful example of female empowerment and environmental responsibility.
