The sky’s the limit

Marium Mukhtiar made history and we can only hope her example will encourage Pakistani women to follow their dreams

The sombre loss of Flying Officer Marium Mukhtiar — during a routine operation training mission, in which the plane she was co-piloting encountered an in-flight emergency and later crashed — along with deep-felt condolences, has also brought with it a point of great pride for not only the family she is survived by, but also for the Pakistani nation as a whole. We will hold our heads up high, though our hearts are replete with grief, at the passing of Ms Mukhtiar. She was one of the few female pilots we had. It was only in 2006 that female recruits were admitted into the Pakistan Air Force as fighter pilots. These women broke six decades of barriers — barriers that restricted women from reaching their full potential, let alone even exploring their interests in various fields.

Pakistani women are indeed talented but seldom given opportunities. If opportunities become available, support for their endeavours by family and friends is often difficult to come by as they seek to conquer uncharted territory and set new precedence. The likes of Ms Mukhtiar, Ayesha Farooq (Pakistan Air Force), Maria Toorpakay Wazir (professional squash player), Sabia Abbat (professional cyclist) and Parveen Saeed (founder of Khana Ghar) have braved these uncharted territories and have given hope to thousands of Pakistani girls across the country.

Whether they are writers, athletes, members of the military, politicians, artists, or entrepreneurs, these women serve as positive role models that aspiring women and young girls of the country can turn to for inspiration, right here on our own soil. We will mourn Ms Mukhtiar’s passing and we will remember her for decades to come for her path-breaking service. Ms Mukhtiar has made history and we can only hope that her example, along with the examples of other strong, enterprising Pakistani women, will encourage others to follow their dreams and instead of taking on ‘victim’ mindsets, adopt more resolute attitudes and play their role in the progress of their country.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th,  2015.

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