The first task that the children are given in creative writing class is to write an essay on ‘MYSELF’. In this Myself essay, the child is also asked to write what he/she aims to become when they grow into an adult. The child, at that time, is not even aware of career choices, therefore, they tend to ask their parents for guidance (in most cases). If it’s a girl, the parents tell her to write that she wants to become a teacher, or a doctor or an artist. And if it’s a boy, the parents tell him to write that he wants to become a soldier, or a doctor, or a policeman, or an engineer, or a lawyer, or a pilot. You may have never heard any of the parents telling their daughters that they can become a pilot. That is mainly because we have gendered the career roles as well. Certain fields are meant to be filled with boys. Same is the case with the field of aviation. It’s thought of as something particularly for the boys. But, gladly, girls are breaking this stereotype as well. Have you heard of Maryam Mujtaba? From AJK? Oh, yes, its a double achievement. First, being a commercial pilot, second being from AJK. Long story short, the FIRST girl to be a commercial pilot from AJK.
She started off her career as a cadet pilot, in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in 2011. Later she got the required training from Rawal Pindi and from USA, followed by the completion of her flying hours through domestic flights. She is gracefully operating PIA Airbus A-320 aircraft, in multiple countries of the world.
Maryam told the media that Ayesha Rabia (a pilot in PIA) served to be her inspiration in making this career choice. She also added that she has always been excited seeing women fly planes, ever since she was a child and she told her father that girls can also fly planes. She acknowledged the support she received from her family, colleagues and mentors, which helped her achieve her dream job.
She was asked about the hurdles she might had faced, owing to the male dominancy of this field, to which she replied, that she faced no such obstacles, instead she was positive about the treatment she received throughout her training and learning phase.
To the women, who want to opt this career, she advised them to be confident and responsible.
I must say, it takes a lot of courage for a woman to fly a plane, in a world, where any accident on the road, make people in cars around think that the driver must be a woman. In the sexist world, we need more women like Maryam Mujtaba.
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