Intl women\u2019s day
\n PESHAWAR
\nInside a modest tailoring shop in Nowshera district, the rhythmic hum of a sewing machine fills the room as 58-year-old Jamila Begum works steadily against the clock to meet the orders placed for Eidul Fitre..
\nPiles of unstitched fabric lie scattered across a wooden table alongside scissors, thread spools and measuring tapes at her home town Pabbi, the motivated lady tailor wakes up early in morning and continues stitching suits till late night .
\nWearing spectacles and concentrating intently on her craft, Jamila who became a polio victim in childhood stitches garments, shalwar qamees and kurtas at remarkable speed while urging her assistants to work faster amid electricity load-shedding.
\n\u201cWe have to finish these different types of suits before Eid,\u201d she says, carefully measuring fabric for the next order in her single room shop.
\nUnaware that International Women\u2019s Day was being observed on March 8 under the global theme \u201cRights. Justice. Action. for All Women and Girls,\u201d Jamila remained focused on her work by completing stitching of ladies and girls suites.
\nHer quiet dedication and commitment to her profession tells a powerful story of the KP\u2019s women key role in progress and development of Pakistan.
\nJamila learned the art of tailoring from her late mother at a very young age and assisted her especially during Eid-ul-Fitr, weeding and other joys occasions.
\n\u201cShe used to stitch clothes for brides, relatives and children during weddings and Eid,\u201d Jamila recalled with a warm smile.
\nInspired by her mother\u2019s skill, Jamila opened a small tailoring shop in her village years ago. Since then, she has worked long hours to meet customer demands and help support her family amid rising inflation in KP.
\nOver time, she transformed the inherited family craft into a steady source of income and helped her father treatment.
\nPrior to Eid, Jamila mainly designs fancy bridal suits, which bring better earnings than ordinary stitching for her.
\n\u201cNormally I stitch three suits a day and now five due to Eid\u2019s demands,\u201d she explained. \u201cIf there is no power outage, I can complete six to eight suits easily.\u201d
\nFor her services, Jamila charges around Rs700 for a simple suit and Rs12,00 for designer outfits as rates far below prevailing market prices.
\nDespite the modest earnings and cultural barriers in KP, she takes pride in the profession that allowed her to educate her children and improve her family\u2019s life.
\n\u201cThrough this work I managed to send my brothers to the University of Peshawar for higher education, arrange their marriages,\u201d she said with quiet satisfaction.
\nJamila believes women of Pakistan have all the talents who can achieve financial independence not only through government jobs but also through entrepreneurship.
\n\u201cA woman can earn with dignity by starting her own business,\u201d she said.
\nHowever, she pointed out that six to eight hours of daily electricity load-shedding in her area negatively impact her work and causes economic losses for local tailors.
\n\u201cIf electricity situation improves, we could earn much more for her families,\u201d she added.
\nJamila\u2019s story mirrors the experiences of thousands of women across Pakistan who are contributing to the country\u2019s economic and social development.
\nPakistan has produced many inspirational women who brought pride to the nation, including Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Begum Rana Liaquat Ali Khan, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, labour rights activist Syeda Ghulam Fatima, Pakistan\u2019s first female fighter pilot Marium Mukhtar Shaheed, motivational speaker Muniba Mazari, CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz and Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.
\nAcross Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, women are making their mark not only in small businesses but also in social development and public administration.
\nOne such example is Najma Sahar, Director of Zamung Kor (Our Own Home)\u2014a government initiative that provides care and education to vulnerable children.
\nSpeaking to APP, she said the project aims to create a safe and nurturing environment for disadvantaged children.
\n\u201cUnder the Zamung Kor model school system, free education, accommodation and sports facilities are provided to destitute and underprivileged children,\u201d she said.
\nEstablished in July 2016, the institution can accommodate around 1,000 students and provides free books, uniforms, school bags, stationery, qualified teachers and psychological support.
\nThe provincial government has taken several legislative and administrative measures to promote women\u2019s empowerment.
\nThese include laws protecting women from workplace harassment, ensuring women\u2019s inheritance rights and establishing a Women Empowerment Cell.
\nThe Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) also reviews policies and monitors initiatives aimed at improving women\u2019s welfare and promoting gender equality.
\nAdditionally, eight Darul Aman shelter homes, 235 industrial training centres, women\u2019s hostels and a Girls Cadet College in Mardan have been established to support women\u2019s education and professional growth.
\nAt the federal level, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) provides financial assistance to millions of deserving women across Pakistan.
\nUnder the Benazir Kafalat Programme, registered women receive quarterly stipends, benefiting millions households.
\nBISP has also introduced Nashonuma and education stipend programmes aimed at improving maternal and child health while promoting education among disadvantaged families.
\nSimilarly, the Prime Minister\u2019s Youth Business, Laptops and Agriculture Schemes offer interest-free loans while higher categories provide concessional financing for entrepreneurs, including women.
\nThe experts stressed that women\u2019s participation is essential for transparent governance and effective implementation of the Right to Information law.
\nThe KP women commission encourages women to actively seek information about their rights and government services.
\nThe commission is also planning awareness campaigns to help women better understand their legal rights and access public information more easily.
\nAcross Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, International Women\u2019s Day is marked by seminars, rallies, talk shows and debates in educational institutions highlighting women\u2019s achievements.
\nFor Jamila Begum, however, the day passed like any other busy working day and she continued to her mother legacy believing in her abilities.
\nInside her small shop, the sewing machine continued to hum as she stitched one suit after another\u2014determined to meet her Eid orders.
\nHer story reflects the quiet strength of countless Pakistani women who, despite social and economic challenges, continue to shape the nation\u2019s development through resilience, dedication and hope.
\nIf given a chance, the KP women can excell in other professions and richly contribute in the country\u2019s devolopment process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Intl women\u2019s day PESHAWAR Inside a modest tailoring shop in Nowshera district, the rhythmic hum of a sewing machine fills the room as 58-year-old Jamila Begum works steadily against the clock to meet the orders placed for Eidul Fitre.. Piles of unstitched fabric lie scattered across a wooden table alongside scissors, thread spools and measuring […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-535540","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n