ISLAMABAD: In its 70-year history, Pakistan’s Consulate General in Jeddah had never appointed a female diplomat — until last week, when it was announced that Fouzia Fayyaz would be the councilor at the mission.
“I am very proud of Pakistan’s Foreign Service; it is their confidence in me (resulting from) my service by performing my duty at important missions such as Washington DC and New Delhi, that brought me here,” said Fayyaz.
The first female diplomat from her hometown of Rahim Yar Khan, in Pakistan’s Punjab district, Fayyaz decided to go into the diplomatic service after completing a master’s degree, having received her family’s permission to pursue her dream and take her Central Superior Services exams.
“Foreign service has always been open to the participation of women and has always extended great roles to the Pakistani female diplomats who have been a part of the organization,” Fayyaz told Arab News Pakistan, in an exclusive interview. “[Currently] our foreign secretary, who is heading our institution, is Tehmina Jenjua and women have [often] been sent to important capitals as ambassadors.”
Pakistani diplomat Fouzia Fayyaz with the mission’s team in Jeddah on Pakistan National Day. (Photo courtesy: Fouzia Fayyaz)
Her role in Pakistan’s long-standing General Consulate is that of councilor, as part of which she will assist the large expatriate Pakistani population in Jeddah and the wider Kingdom.
“I am looking after consulate services, which specifically deals with ID cards, passports and other related issues, especially the issues of Pakistanis who are detained or facing problems within Saudi jails,” Fayyaz said.
“Pakistani missions in Saudi Arabia cater to the needs of about 2.7 million Pakistanis, and the expat community predominantly belongs to the laborer class. I really hope that as an officer, as a diplomat, as a person who is heading the consular services, I will be able to solve their problems, be as helpful to them as much as possible and try to mitigate their hardships.
“I truly hope that I will be able to play a positive role in improving conditions for the Pakistani expatriates in Saudi Arabia.”
The landmark achievement of becoming the first woman to join the Saudi mission in its seven decades of existence is an exciting, door-opening opportunity that is not lost on Fayyaz.
“It’s an honor for me that I have been sent to Saudi Arabia (as) the first female diplomat to ever be appointed to serve in the Pakistan mission (here),” she said. “It’s been extremely positive and I am looking forward to seeing how Saudi Arabia is transforming itself, with more and more space becoming available for women to work and to become part of the workforce in Saudi Arabia.”
