Madam Bilqees Saifuddin
Madam Bilqees Saifuddin – A Pioneer of Education, Grace, and Leadership
The story of Madam Bilqees Saifuddin reflects the remarkable legacy of the highly educated, graceful women who shaped the early generations of Islamabad. These dedicated educators—women who achieved rare academic milestones in their own time—became the foundation upon which countless young minds were built.
Madam Bilqees, with her exceptional qualifications and unwavering devotion to teaching, represents a generation of women who quietly transformed the future of the city. Their classrooms were not just places of learning, but spaces of compassion, discipline, and inspiration.
The children who studied under such extraordinary teachers were truly fortunate. Under their gentle guidance and strong values, they not only learned subjects but learned how to become good human beings. Many of those children, now in their 50s and 60s, still speak with deep affection about teachers like Madam Bilqees—women who nurtured them with motherly kindness and set the standards for excellence in education.
Their influence continues to echo across decades, proving that the most powerful legacy is not written in books, but in the hearts and lives of the generations they shaped.
Madam Bilqees Saifuddin, born in 1940 in the historic Chandia Baloch tribe of Dera Ghazi Khan, stands as a timeless symbol of courage, intellect, and quiet strength. She emerged from a community where, at that time, formal education—especially for women—was nearly non-existent. Yet, against all odds, she rose to become one of the most educated women of her generation, earning her Master’s degree in 1965, at a time when very few women anywhere in Pakistan—even in major cities—pursued such advanced education.
Her life is proof that extraordinary women do not simply break barriers; they redefine what is possible.
Early Life: Born Into Tradition, Guided by Vision
She was born into an era when educational attainment in her tribe was extremely rare. In fact, at the time of her birth, her late father was the only person in the entire tribe to hold a B.A. degree, a remarkable distinction under British rule in the early twentieth century.
He was a man of great foresight—a visionary who believed deeply in the power of learning. It was his unwavering commitment that ensured all his children, boys and girls alike, were given the opportunities he had struggled to obtain. His belief became her foundation.
Academic Journey: A Trailblazer in Every Sense
Because Dera Ghazi Khan had no institutions for higher learning, she and her siblings were sent to Multan, where they lived in hostels and pursued their education with resilience and determination.
She completed her B.A. from Multan Government College in 1960.
She then moved to Lahore, earning her B.Ed from Lady Maclagan College in 1961.
In 1965, she achieved a milestone that remains inspiring to this day—her Master’s degree in Urdu from Punjab University, becoming the first woman in her entire tribe to receive not only formal education but higher education.
For a woman of her time, this was not just achievement—it was revolution.
Professional Life: A Career of Excellence and Devotion
After completing her Master’s, she served for six years as Headmistress of Junior Model School, Dera Ghazi Khan, leading with integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to discipline.
After marriage, she remained blessed with a supportive husband and family who valued education as deeply as she did. Her pursuit of teaching continued unhindered.
In 1972, she joined Islamabad College for Boys (ICB) as a teacher in the Junior Section. She began with passion, purpose, and a genuine love for shaping young minds. Over the years, she became known for her unmatched dedication—never late to school, rarely ever taking leave, and consistently setting an example for students and colleagues alike.
International Experience: Taking Excellence Abroad
When her husband received an assignment in Libya, she continued her professional journey there as well. With the support of Mrs. Shuja Qazi, she secured the certification needed to teach abroad and joined the Pakistani School in Libya as an Urdu teacher for high-school students.
Her students excelled under her guidance, earning outstanding results. Their achievements were recognized with a Federal Board Award, which she accepted with humility and gratitude.
🎞️Her Early Years in Pictures – The Foundation of a Remarkable Educator
In her younger years, Madam Bilqees Saifuddin embodied the rare combination of intellect, refinement, and purpose that defined the early educators of Islamabad. As a young, highly learned woman, she carried herself with quiet confidence and a sincere devotion to her calling. Even in those early days, her presence reflected the discipline, clarity of thought, and compassion that would one day shape generations of students.
Her classrooms were guided not by authority alone, but by a gentle firmness that inspired respect. She was the kind of teacher who believed in nurturing minds as well as character—instilling values with patience, kindness, and a deep sense of responsibility. Those who knew her then remember a woman driven not by recognition, but by the belief that education was a sacred trust.
These formative years reveal a teacher who was principled, focused, and exceptionally committed—a young educator whose dedication would leave an imprint far beyond her time.
Return to Pakistan: Recognition and Honor
Upon returning to Pakistan, she appeared before the promotion board and was selected—along with only three colleagues—for a well-deserved promotion. During her service, she was also honored with a Gold Medal, a testament to her contributions, professionalism, and excellence.
Her classroom was known not only for disciplined study but for an atmosphere of creativity. She encouraged children to participate in:
Tableaus
Speeches
Debates
Artwork
Sports and extracurricular activities
She believed deeply that education must build both intellect and character.
Final Years of Service: A Legacy Recognized
Just five months before her retirement, she was offered the prestigious position of Headmistress in a newly established sister institution—a gesture that reflected the deep trust and admiration she had earned over decades.
Though health challenges prevented her from accepting the role, the honor itself stands as an enduring tribute to her lifelong dedication to education.
🎞️ Her Later Years in Pictures – Grace, Wisdom, and a Life Well Lived
Today, in her eighties, Madam Bilqees Saifuddin stands as a symbol of enduring grace and timeless dignity. The compassion and wisdom that once shaped her classrooms now shine even more profoundly in her presence. Her life’s work—decades of guiding, shaping, and uplifting young minds—has given her a serenity that only those who have served with sincerity can possess.
Her calm smile, her gentle manner, and the quiet strength she carries are reflections of a life lived with purpose. She represents the finest traditions of education: humility, patience, and unwavering dedication. Former students who meet her now still sense the same warmth they felt as children—proof that true influence does not fade with time, but matures into something even more beautiful.
In these later years, Madam Bilqees remains a source of inspiration—an educator whose grace has only deepened with age, and whose legacy continues to illuminate the lives she touched.
Her Legacy: A Life That Inspired Generations
Today, at 85 years old and residing in the United States, Madam Bilqees Saifuddin represents an era of women who dared to rise when society expected them to remain silent.
Her students—many of whom are now themselves in their 60s—still remember her as:
“A sweet, calm, and decent lady,”
“A loving, motherlike figure,”
“A teacher whose gentleness and discipline shaped our lives.”
Her influence is woven into the memories of thousands, her gentleness remembered, her principles admired, and her compassion never forgotten.
A Life Well Lived
Looking back, she carries a deep sense of fulfillment knowing that she helped shape minds, uplift communities, and pave pathways for the generations that followed. Her story is not just about education—it is about courage, dignity, perseverance, and the transformative power of a woman who refused to be limited by the times she was born into.
Madam Bilqees Saifuddin is, and will always remain, a beacon of light in the history of ICB and in the hearts of all who were touched by her grace.
What Madam Shehnaz Ellahie Says about Madam Bilqees:
Madam Shehnaz Ellahie stands among the most respected names in the history of Islamabad College for Boys (ICB) — a true pioneer whose devotion to education helped define the institution’s early years.
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