It is an honor for us to host Sitara Boruj Akbar

Heidelberg,(Tariq Khayyam) __At the invitation of the city of Heidelberg, Germany, Sitara Boruj Akbar, a prominent Pakistani scientist and internationally recognized women’s rights advocate, paid an official visit to the city. She delivered the keynote address at the high-level dialogue forum held at the DAI Library titled “Revealing Talent – The Role of Young Women in Science and Society”. The event was a huge success and was attended by prominent figures from science, politics, civil society and the Pakistani diaspora.

Deputy Mayor Stephanie Johnson, in her opening address, emphasized that women’s high academic achievements and their outstanding role in the scientific field are indispensable for building a just and sustainable society. Among the five city councilors attending the event, Heidelberg’s youngest councilor, Yasmin Rehnani, also warmly welcomed Sitara Boruj Akbar and had a brief conversation appreciating her outstanding achievements.

Another highlight of the visit was a visit to the internationally renowned German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). Sitara Boruj Akbar and City Councilor Wasim Butt were officially welcomed by Dr. Mayer and given a tour of the state-of-the-art research programs and world-class laboratories. In recognition of her exceptional academic achievements, the DKFZ offered Ms. Akbar the special honor of pursuing a PhD and conducting research in the field of cancer—an opportunity for which more than 10,000 scientists from all over the world apply every year.

This official welcome by the city of Heidelberg and the special invitation to the DKFZ were made possible at the suggestion of City Councilor Wasim Butt, the first Pakistani-origin politician to be elected to public office in Germany. Wasim Butt, Chairman of the HiB/Volt Fraction and Honorary Judge at the Karlsruhe Administrative Court, said:

“It is an honor for us to host Sitara Buroj Akbar. Her extraordinary academic achievements and scientific dedication are setting new standards globally. She embodies talent, determination and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of knowledge and education. Heidelberg is proud to welcome a figure who is an outstanding role model for young women and an ambassador for a new generation of scientists, who are building bridges between cultures across borders.”

At the end of the visit, Sitara Buroj Akbar expressed her deep gratitude to the city of Heidelberg, the DKFZ and especially City Councilor Wasim Butt. She said that she was extremely honored and grateful for the warm, professional and respectful welcome she had been given.

It is a matter of pride and joy for her that a politician from Pakistan, working with such high morale and sincerity for the promotion of knowledge, science and social development, holds a respected and influential position in Germany. She said that this visit will always remain an unforgettable memory for her towards Heidelberg, which is a symbol of global solidarity, high-level academic exchange and the sustainable inclusion of young women in science and society.