Pakistani-American woman Fauzia Janjua has achieved a historic milestone by being elected as the mayor of Mount Laurel in the state of New Jersey, USA.
Accompanied by her husband and four sons, she proudly participated in the swearing-in ceremony at the Township Hall in Mount Laurel, holding a Quran during the event.
During the ceremony, Carol Murphy, a New Jersey state woman, Assembly member, and congressional candidate, administered the oath of office to Fauzia Janjua. In her speech on this significant occasion, Janjua expressed pride in her Pakistani heritage and emphasized the historic nature of her election.
Janjua remarked that she is honored to be the first Pakistani and Muslim woman mayor in the history of Mount Laurel, considering it a matter of pride for herself and the entire Pakistani community. In an interview with Urdu News, she shared details about her background, mentioning that her father hails from Chakwal, and her mother from Lahore. Born in America after her father's migration in the 1970s, Janjua pursued her education in the United States.
Fauzia Janjua’s commitment to community service has been a lifelong passion, with a particular focus on teaching prisoners and underprivileged children. She established an NGO to actively engage in community service, aiming to improve people's lives.
Reflecting on her political journey, Janjua mentioned an encounter at a state governor's party where a woman recognized her potential for leadership and suggested that she could lead the city. With this encouragement, Janjua embarked on her political career, ultimately achieving the historic position of mayor.
In addition to her political responsibilities, Fauzia Janjua has also dedicated efforts to showcase positive aspects of Muslim culture to the world, leveraging her role as Deputy Mayor to promote understanding and appreciation.
