By agencies
Kashmiri-origin British Muslim Parliamentarian, Nusrat Ghani on Friday became the first female Muslim minister in the country to speak from the British Parliament dispatch box.
Ghani was born in Birmingham to parents from Kashmir, according to The Indian Express. She is currently a junior minister in the Department for Transport, the report said.
Excited over the milestone, Ghani wrote on Twitter: “Made my debut as @transportgovuk Minister and made a bit of history as the first female Muslim Minister to speak from the House of Commons dispatch box”.
Dispatch box is the designated place where ministers stand and speak from in the House of Commons.
Speaking about the milestone, Ms Ghani said it was an “important moment”. “As many people know, this year is also a significant milestone in this country, as 2018 marks 100 years of votes for women,” she said.
“I hope that today, young people can see that regardless of their background, heritage or faith, there will be a warm welcome on the green benches – and no matter where you are from, you can achieve your dreams and ambitions.
“I am thrilled to be a minister at the Department for Transport, which is working hard to encourage more diversity in the transport sector.
“I’m excited to meet head on the opportunities and challenges that this new role will bring.”
The 45-year-old, was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Transport by British Prime Minister Theresa May as part of her New Year reshuffle last week.
“The roles are both exciting and challenging opportunities… Transport is a subject on which I have campaigned passionately since being elected as the MP for Wealden. Alongside my ministerial duties, I will continue to be a strong voice for Wealden and deliver for my constituents,” she was quoted
Befor becoming a British Parliamentarian, Ghani worked for charities such as Age UK and Breakthrough Breast Cancer as well as the BBC World Service before first standing as a Conservative Party candidate in Birmingham in the 2010 general election.
In 2015, she became the first Conservative party Muslim female candidate to be elected to Parliament.
Ghani had also made headlines when after the June 2017 snap election, she made history after she repeated her oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II in Urdu when she was sworn into Parliament.
