T-Diaries: Nusrat Jamil

A glimpse into the world of Pakistani powerhouses.


July 08, 2014

You are a working woman with a family and even grandchildren. How do you maintain a work-life balance?

Women are natural multi-taskers.

An idea that changed your life?

My life has been the best roller coaster ride ever. Change has been the only constant.

What’s the best way to deal with failure?

Try again and again and again.

If you could relive any one day of your life, it would be...?

Perhaps the day I met my husband JJ. He has been my friend and companion for almost 50 years now!

How does it feel to be one of the leading female entrepreneurs of Pakistan?

All the credit must go to my son who set up our business. It is small but we are passionate. We have worked very hard to build a name for ourselves over the last three years.

Did you face any obstacles or criticism as a working woman in Pakistan?

Thankfully I didn’t but it was never an even playing field. Women in Pakistan and across the world  have to work twice as hard as men. The system is skewed in their favour and there are still huge problems with the way our society views women who work.

What difficulties do working women in Pakistan face and how can they overcome them?

Women face a plethora of difficulties in the real world, from Director’s Couch to harassment from their bosses, etc. There should be free legal aid for all working women so that they have somewhere to go to for help.

What do you think is the key to improving the status of women in Pakistan? Do you think it has changed over the years?

Of course it has changed for the better. but there is still much that needs to be done. Women at work often don’t know their rights and should be made aware of them. Education and financial independence is the key to empowerment. Lobbying for greater reforms for women’s rights and getting rid of the many anti-women, discriminatory laws will also help!

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

There is always so much to do in Pakistan. I don’t know where life will take me but I hope to keep making a small difference. I hope I never retire and leave this world with my dancing shoes on!

What do you have to say about the current state of Pakistan? How has it changed over the years?

Pakistan has changed a great deal as I have grown up. There is far too much importance to a false sense of piety and little or no emphasis on ethics. There is no tolerance for divergent views; just violence, materialism and corruption.

Where do you see Pakistan in the next five to ten years?

I think there is huge growth potential in this country but we need security first, combined with competent and honest leadership.

Share a quote than inspires you?

“Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world.

Today I am wise so I’m changing myself.” - Rumi

Any advice for aspiring female entrepreneurs?

Today, there is immense opportunity for Pakistani women to start up their own businesses and so they do. The most important thing, however, is the first idea; the Eureka moment when you just suddenly know whatever it is that you want to do. Hard work, discipline, passion and a little luck can take you anywhere.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, July 6th, 2014.

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