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A grassroots uprising by women unfolds in a Pakistani valley

Craftswomen hammer away at cabinetry in a dusty workshop concealed amidst the towering Karakoram Mountains, charting an unconventional career path for themselves within Pakistan's carpentry industry.

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3 min read
In the heart of the Karakoram Mountains, a workshop adorned with sawdust hosts a group of female...
In the heart of the Karakoram Mountains, a workshop adorned with sawdust hosts a group of female carpenters, who meticulously craft cabinets, redefining conventional careers in Pakistan.

A grassroots uprising by women unfolds in a Pakistani valley

In the heart of Pakistan's Hunza Valley, a wrinkle in time, women are busting prejudices and making a name for themselves. This region, a dot on the map between China and Afghanistan, boasts a women-led business movement that's turning heads.

"22 employees, and we've trained around 100 women," said Bibi Amina, founder of a carpentry workshop she established back in 2008 at the age of 30. Despite its small population of 50,000, scattered across mountainous orchards loaded with apricots, cherries, walnuts, and mulberries, Hunza Valley has a distinctive edge.

Residents follow the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam, led by the household of Aga Khan, a hereditary position now based in Europe. This unique setup has led to a shift in attitudes, allowing women like Amina to thrive.

Amina trained with the Aga Khan Foundation to restore the ancient Altit Fort and later parlayed her skills into her own business. Currently, her craftsmen are working on a commission for a luxury hotel.

Groundbreakers

Official statistics show that just 23 percent of Pakistani women entered the workforce as of 2024[1]. Rural areas often see women working the fields to support the family's farming income, but formal employment is scarce.

According to a Gallup poll published last year, a third of women said their father or husband forbade them from taking a job, while 43.5 percent said they left their positions to focus on domestic chores[2].

Lal Shehzadi, a café owner, paved the way for women's restaurant entrepreneurship in Hunza. She opened her café perched atop a winding street to complement her husband's small army pension. Sixteen years later, her humble setup has become a popular hunting ground for nighttime tourists, serving local delicacies like yak meat, apricot oil, and rich mountain cheese[1].

In her footsteps, Safina quit her job to launch her own restaurant a decade ago. Faced with skepticism, she managed to convince family members to sell livestock to fund her dream. Now, she earns roughly $170 monthly, more than 15 times her former income[1].

From Fields to Football

The remarkable strides women in Hunza have made economically compared to other rural areas in Pakistan can be traced back to three elements, according to Sultan Madan, the head of the Karakoram Area Development Organisation and a local historian[3].

"The main reason is the exceptionally high literacy rate, largely owing to educational initiatives backed by organizations like the Aga Khan Foundation," Madan explained to AFP.

Hunza's economy, traditionally supported by agriculture, is unique because of the limited landholdings. This phenomenon pushed women to venture into various sectors, fostering their economic independence[3].

The increased economic participation of women has rippled into other aspects of life, such as sports fields.

"Every village in the valley has a women's soccer team: Gojal, Gulmit, Passu, Khyber, Shimsal," said Nadia Shams, a 17-year-old player[3].

On an artificial pitch, Shams and her teammates train in gym clothes, a luxury unheard of elsewhere in Pakistan due to the country's conservative dress code. Famed local athlete Malika-e-Noor, the former vice-captain of the national team, is a source of inspiration. Fahima Qayyum, inspired by Noor's achievements when she was six, is now recruiting the next generation of athletes[3].

References:[1] Web. businesses-defying-expectations-hunza-pakistan[2] https://www.dawn.com/news/1569433[3] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunza_Valley

  1. Despite only 23% of Pakistani women entered the workforce as of 2024, women in Hunza Valley are making a significant impact, particularly in the business sector.
  2. Bibi Amina, a resident of Hunza, has established a carpentry workshop that employs 22 people and has trained around 100 women, showcasing the potential for entrepreneurship in the region.
  3. Influenced by the unique cultural setup and educational initiatives in Hunza, women are not only excelling in business but also breaking barriers in other areas, such as sports.
  4. The high literacy rate in Hunza, facilitated by organizations like the Aga Khan Foundation, has contributed to the economic independence of women and their participation in various sectors, including sports like soccer.
  5. Young athletes like Nadia Shams and Fahima Qayyum are inspired by local sports stars like Malika-e-Noor and are working to recruit the next generation of athletes, demonstrating the impact of women's sports in Hunza Valley.

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