A WOMAN who has received a list of accolades over the years for her service to the community has been awarded a Community Achievement award by the Pakistan Society of West Yorkshire.
Sofia Buncy, DL, was awarded the first ‘Rashid Awan MBE Community Achievement Award’ on Sunday evening at the annual dinner of the Pakistan Society of West Yorkshire to celebrate Pakistan’s Independence.
The award was in recognition of Rashid Awan, who was the first Muslim Pakistani police officer in the UK, and who did a lot of work building bridges between different communities in the UK.
Qasem Awan, son of Mr Awan, and part of the executive committee of the Pakistan Society of West Yorkshire, launched the award in memory of his father.
He said: “My father is my greatest role model and I wanted to honour his memory.
“He did a lot of community work within the Asian and Pakistani community, and he likes to see young people excel and progress.
“We chose Sofia for this award because she’s achieved so much already, with her work in the community and with her Muslim Women in Prison project.
“We wanted to acknowledge all the works she’s done and put a light on a South Asian Muslim woman who’s achieved so much personally and professionally."
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Ms Buncy said: “It was an honour to receive the first-ever Rashid Awan Award from the Pakistan Society of West Yorkshire on the celebration of the 75th Independence Day of Pakistan at Bradford Hotel.
“The award is much about keeping the legacy of Mr Rashid Awan alive for being one of the first Pakistani police officers in the UK.
“My work with Muslim women going through CJS is challenging and extremely of a sensitive nature. For it be accepted and acknowledged by the community is of great significance and pride for me and my team.
“For a woman to receive the very first Rashid Awan Award is an extremely encouraging and positive statement by the community.
“It shows how far the Pakistani community in its fourth/ fifth generation settlement has progressed regarding gender equality. We now have a growing number of women who are leading pioneering work in the city in different areas of life. This is how it should be.
“This award from one of the leading community organisations in the region will encourage other women to come forward to take up their rightful place in the community and society. I am pleased to be flying the flag.
“Women played a crucial role in the creation of Pakistan. Therefore, it is only right that a woman-led initiative gets recognised on the 75th Pakistani Independence Day.”
MS Buncy was presented the award by Faisal Khan, organiser and Qasem Awan at Bradford Hotel.
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