Championing Minds: The Inspiring Legacy of Prof. Dr. Rukhsana Jabeen

By Ahmed Jahangeer Khan

Women’s empowerment is ultimately about choice—the freedom to redefine gender roles, challenge traditional boundaries, and create new possibilities where doors were once closed. Across Balochistan, few leaders embody this transformation as powerfully as Prof. Dr. Rukhsana Jabeen. A visionary educator, researcher, and social reformer, she has dedicated her life to building institutions that nurture and empower thousands of young women across the province.

A Heritage of Academic Excellence

Hailing from Quetta, Dr. Rukhsana belongs to a family deeply rooted in academic service and public dedication. Her early education took place in Quetta, followed by an M.Sc. in Plant Sciences from the University of Balochistan. Driven by a thirst for knowledge, she pursued her M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, eventually earning her Doctorate in Plant Pathology.

While her family originally envisioned a career for her in medicine or law, Dr. Rukhsana felt a different calling. Compassionate by nature, she realized her true strength lay not in clinical practice, but in shaping young minds through teaching—a decision that would alter the landscape of female higher education in Balochistan.

A Trailblacing Administrative Journey

Dr. Rukhsana entered the public education sector through the Provincial Civil Service (PCS). Over the years, her administrative journey took her across the province:

• Early Service: Spent three years teaching in Sibi, followed by two years at Govt. Girls Degree College Cantt, Quetta.
• Institutional Leadership: Served five pivotal years as Principal of Govt. Girls Degree College, Nushki.
• Ascent at SBK Women’s University: Joined Sardar Bahadur Khan (SBK) Women’s University as an Associate Professor, steadily rising to Full Professor, Dean, and eventually Vice Chancellor in 2013.

Initially appointed as interim Vice Chancellor, her transformative vision and dedication led to her permanent appointment—a role where she achieved the prestigious Rank of Grade 22.

Transforming SBK Women’s University

When Dr. Rukhsana assumed leadership of SBK Women’s University in 2013, total student enrollment stood at 1,500. Through relentless administrative reforms, expanded academic offerings, and community outreach, she scaled student enrollment to over 10,000 women.

Her tangible achievements at SBK include:

• Infrastructure Growth: Approved and secured funding for three mega-development projects valued at PKR 81 Crore, 61 Crore, and 41 Crore respectively.
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Established SBK’s first Business Incubation Center, equipping female graduates with career counseling and resources to launch their own enterprises.
• Academic Mentorship: Supervised dozens of M.Sc. and B.S. scholars, alongside producing over 20 M.Phil. graduates.

Global Research & National Recognition

Beyond university administration, Dr. Rukhsana is an accomplished scholar. She has authored over 40 research papers in internationally indexed impact factor journals, contributed to 15 major publications, and authored a book published on international platforms.

Representing Pakistan’s academic community on global stages, she has presented research and delivered keynote addresses across Canada, South Korea, the United States, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. Her contributions have earned her prestigious recognitions, including the Best University Teacher Award, international civil honors, and a nomination for the Presidential Award.

Personal Philosophy & Vision for Tomorrow

Outside her office and laboratories, Dr. Rukhsana finds joy in cooking, sewing, music, and reading. Guided by the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H), her long-term vision is clear: to establish regional sub-campuses and specialized research centers so that quality higher education reaches every doorstep in Balochistan.

Her message to the young women and youth of the province remains resolute:

“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

The team at Balochistan Stars honors Prof. Dr. Rukhsana Jabeen for her landmark contributions to female literacy, institutional growth, and social empowerment across Balochistan.