Pakistan former prime minister and the late wife of President Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto, has been posthumously awarded this year’s Global Creative Leadership Award by the Louise T Blouin Foundation in New York on September 24, 2009. The award signifies the global acknowledgement of Ms Bhutto’s iconic political leadership.

The award was announced by Nobel laureate Eric Kandel in a gathering of artists, writers, and leaders. It was received by Benazir’s aunt Behjet Hariri while Mr. Zardari was also attending the ceremony and so was Finland’s Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. Speakers including President Zardari spoke about Ms Bhutto’s contributions to Pakistan’s state and people, especially her efforts for women’s emancipation and the encouragement and inspiration she imparted to Pakistani women. Eric Kandel said in his address that Benazir will be remembered forever as an extraordinary leader who had great intellect, determination and courage.