Pakistan is making progress, as women continue to contribute to the economy. Recently a woman even opened up her own restaurant in district Swat of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Previously occupied by Taliban militants, there was a time in Swat when women weren’t allowed outside the home and were banned from formal education. After the security forces eliminated militancy in 2009, many local women began contributing to the economy via various career paths in line with their skills and interests.
Now, one woman, Noora Ihsas is flexing her culinary skills as the first restaurateur in the region. She’s also a poetess and a social media celebrity.
Noora Ihsas established the Chai Saaz in Mingora in partnership with two other literary people. Dawn reports that despite an expected reaction from the conservative locals, was her passion for this initiative. Many men said she won’t be able to open the restaurant as it was not a woman’s job.
She wanted to open her own restaurant and show the people that women of the region could do every job decently. She wants women to realize they have the power to do anything.
“I want to make other women realize that they can do business and earn a livelihood in a respectable manner. If a woman dares open a business, she will never be at the mercy of men and will earn with respect,” she said.
Adding that women have the right to operate their own businesses, she shared how she proved all the naysayers wrong.
“Today, I showed everyone that a woman can do [everything] if she has the courage, when people criticize me, I do not get disheartened and instead, the criticism gives me more courage,” she said.
Aside from flexing her own culinary skills, Noora Ihsas has hired cooks. She even steps in as a hostess and server, as she welcomes guests and serves them food.
Her two partners in this venture, Riaz Ahmad Hairan and Shahab Shaheen, are among the many men that appreciated and encouraged her. Several members of the civil society were there for Chai Saaz’s launch and lauded Noora.
President of the Swat Hotel Association, Haji Zahid Khan said he was really happy to see youth come forward and do business.
“Today, it is also a very good development that a young woman has shown the courage to open a restaurant. The involvement of youth in business activities will not only prevent them from negative activities but will earn them handsome money as well,” said
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