ISLAMABAD: Arab women who live in Islamabad said they considered the country home and appreciated the exalted position of women in Pakistani society, though they had initially had a difficult time adjusting to the spicy food.
In honour of International Women’s Day, Arab News spoke with four Arab women about their experience of living in Pakistan.
Mariam Jihad, 25, and her mother, Basma Al Masharqah, 50, are Jordanian nationals who have spent the last 25 years in Pakistan. Jihad’s father moved the family to Pakistan while he pursued his education here and eventually went on to open a business. Miriam studied in Pakistan and currently works as the secretary to the Omani ambassador. Masharqah is a housewife.
“Both cultures, our beliefs are almost the same. Some parts of Pakistani culture are common with Arab culture, though the main difference is the food,” Jihad said laughing. “In Pakistan, the food is too spicy but in my country it’s not at all.”
Her mother piped in: “I initially had a very difficult time eating [Pakistani food].”
“Being abroad or living outside your country is not an easy experience for everyone,” Masharqah said. “I came to Pakistan 25 years ago. I have a family of four children. Everything was difficult, but after integrating into life, and learning the language of the country, everything has been beautiful and easy.”
“The most interesting difference, which I really love Pakistan for, is that women here have value,” Jihad said. “Everyone respects women. It is open for women to teach, drive, and compete with men in every sphere.”
Nosibah Ahmed, 24, came to Pakistan from her native Yemen for undergraduate studies at the Islamic University where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Translation and Interpretation.
“Growing up in a foreign country was a little difficult for me, though there weren’t major differences between my country and Pakistan, as both countries are Muslim,” Ahmed said. “They both honour women, they give us the rights to study, to travel and move freely.”
She said she had commemorated International Women’s Day with her Pakistan and Arab friends: “We celebrated being independent women, trying to achieve our goals; we get to go out have fun and we truly give this day high significance.”
“It’s an honour to celebrate this day as an Arab woman because though I got my chance here, there are many Arab girls who do not get their own chances to study abroad, to travel, to work and be independent women,” said Ahmed. “It’s vital to celebrate this day to make people aware that we are an important part of the community.”
Eeman Suleiman Hawamdeh, 24, a clinical psychologist who completed her studies in Pakistan, said one of the major differences between Pakistani and Arab society was “women’s dominance” in the former. She added that “both cultures value women and their rights.” Her father is a professor at the Islamic University and her mother teaches at a Saudi school. The family hails from Jordan.
“It’s a day to remind women’s value in the society,” she said of International Women’s Day. “To spread awareness among women that they are valuable.”
