Tahira Yasub became the first woman superintendent in the region earlier this week. She was given her ranks by the inspector general and former chief minister Mehdi Shah in a ceremony on Thursday.
“I am thankful to the government,” Yasub told The Express Tribune during a brief chat on Friday.
A graduate in international relations from Karakoram International University, she has been selected twice to represent Pakistan in UN peacekeeping missions.
In December 2011, she was promoted to the rank of traffic deputy superintendent police (DSP), again becoming the first woman to hold the position in Gilgit-Baltistan.
As DSP, Yasub’s responsibilities included streamlining the flow of traffic in the congested city of Gilgit—a daunting task as traffic violations are a norm. However, she performed her duties with poise and even introduced an effective car parking system.
“I think this is the only way to avoid traffic jams in the city,” she told The Express Tribune. “Drivers are a difficult bunch to deal with.”
Through a driving tutorial programme for women introduced by the G-B police last year, Yasub trained more than 60 locals. The women who passed at the end of the four-week long programme were issued driving licences.
Yasub has also trained local and UN police in Sudan for 14 months before returning to the country in 2012. She has the distinction of being the first woman inspector in G-B’s history.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2014.
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Tahira is my best friend's sister. I have met her many times, she has the combined qualities of courage, power and feminine. I was confused by her stepping into a male dominated police culture in the northern areas, but she proved that a woman can do if she aims to do something very nontraditional and tough. It is like 'work hard in silence, let success make the noise!' We all are proud of her.
congratulations, she is a confident and competent officer. Once during my visit to the mountains I did see her on the road in Gilgit city with her male staff- very unusual but most vital to encourage women and girls to be part of this essential government department . I was told by people in the market that she did put her best to organize the traffic and was very strict in fostering smooth traffic systems in the city , that was most needed.
Proud of you, she is a sister of my old school friend.....well done..
Excellent.. Keep up the good work.
Good job!