There is a Chinese saying that, one joy scatters a thousand sorrows. this seems to aptly apply to Parveen Azam Khan.
Dr Parveen Azam Khan (born 1938), is a doctor of medicine who has dedicated her life to the treatment and rehabilitation of disadvantaged, vulnerable and stigmatized groups living on the margins of society.
Creating "Dost Welfare Foundation" in 1992, she has through this dedicated organization reached out to drug abusers on the streets, in prisons and in the community in order to facilitate their reintegration into society.
Dr. Khan’s foundation provides residential treatment programs, mobile street outreach facilities and drop-in centers. DOST also runs drug awareness and training programs in the North West Frontier Province and in refugee camps for Afghan women. Since its inception, DOST has benefited thousands of drug addicts and their families. Every day, Dr. Parveen Azam Khan proves that every small effort does count and that an individual can make a difference.
Thanks to her work, thousands of drugs users in the North Western Frontier Province have been rescued from hopeless lives as mendicants, prisoners, or wastrels. She has also managed to push through changes in the way the justice system treats vulnerable prisoners including children that are forced to serve sentences with their mothers.
Dr Parveen Azam Khan's nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005 is living testimony to the achievements of DOSTs staff and clients and international recognition of their contribution to peace and her dedication to helping others.
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The project “1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005”is a Swiss initiative which has received worldwide support. The nominated women are experts in promoting a life in security and dignity. They have limited budgets but effective straregies and thus represent a major force in civil society. Their experiences are closely related to to the political situation in their respective countries or regions.
Each nominated woman fulfils certain criteria which include employing and promoting active , non-violent responses to conflict solutions, structural injustices and inequalities. Her work is sustainable and long-term, she leads by example, acting with moral courage and responsibility. Her work is exemplary and worthy of emulation and she works for peace and not for political or personal gain. Her work must be transparent, based on tolerance, engaging people of different backgrounds and across the conflict divide.
General Parvez Musharaf conferred the Civil Award of Tamgha-i-Imtiaz on Dr. Parveen Azam Khan, for her work of excellence in the field of Public Service in Pakistan, during a ceremony for decoration of recipients of the Civil and Military Awards at the Aiwan-e-Sadr Islamabad on 14th August 2004.
We the Pukhtun Women salute you madam.