Two Canadian politicians of Pakistani descent, Iqra Khalid and Salma Zahid, have once again secured seats in Canada’s Parliament, marking a moment of pride for the Pakistani community and showcasing the increasing influence of Pakistani-Canadians in national politics.
Iqra Khalid, a member of the Liberal Party, won her fourth straight term representing Mississauga—Erin Mills, defeating her rival by more than 5,000 votes. Following her victory, an emotional Khalid embraced her father as supporters celebrated. Born in Pakistan, Khalid moved to Canada in 1998. She later earned a degree in criminology from York University and studied law at the University of Michigan before entering public service.
Khalid has served as the chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and is well known for introducing Motion 103, which addressed systemic racism and religious intolerance. She frequently acknowledges her Pakistani roots as a source of motivation in her work for equity and justice.
Salma Zahid also retained her seat from Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, earning around 21,000 votes. Zahid holds an MBA from Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad and a Master’s degree from the University of London. She first entered Parliament in 2015.
Before her political career, Zahid worked in Ontario’s public service and was active in community outreach, particularly supporting women and youth. In Parliament, she has been a vocal proponent of diversity and minority rights and has advocated on international issues, including raising awareness about the persecution of Rohingya Muslims and strengthening Canada-Palestine relations through her involvement in the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group.