When we talk about women’s empowerment there are very few names that come to our mind, Fatimah Changezi is one of them. Fatimah Changezi is the First Female Naval officer from district Gilgit, Pakistan. In our society women usually are fixed for mother, daughter, and wives roles. But now things are changing. People are coming forward and working. A woman in Pakistan is traditionally responsible for taking care of the home and family. As a wife she is expected to serve her husband, preparing food, clothing, and other personal needs. Women are now taking charge of their own lives and proving that a woman is an individual too and can take matters of nation into her hands too. As a politician, doctor, wife, friend, women can rule every place. Fatimah Changezi joined Pakistan Navy as a Sub-lieutenant Officer. She has received her rank after completing the 23rd short service commission. These services include branches such as Logistics, Medical, Pharmacy, Information Technology, Law, Public Relations and Education, etc. she has many other accolades under her belt. We hope that our Pakistani women get inspired by such strong women, role models and come forward and serve the nation in their respective fields. Women in Pakistan make up 48.76% of the population according to the 2017 census of Pakistan. Women in Pakistan played an important role throughout history but usually, women are stay-at-home moms. We must encourage them to come forward and serve as Fatimah Jinnah has served the nation, our greatest role model. Women were allowed to vote since the elections of 1956. It proves that women are good at decision-making as well. They can easily choose the best politician just as a man can. The status of women though varies and differs considerably across classes, regions, and the urban/rural divide due to uneven socio-economic development.
Pakistan does face issues where women are kept behind in the field of education. Overall improvements in women, rights are spreading through Pakistan and an increasing number of Pakistani women are educated and literate. Hence many women in Pakistan still face social, religious, economic, and political obstacles, which prevent them from exercising political rights as voters, candidates, and election administrators. Women’s disengagements from socio-political affairs lead to an unfair and un-balanced governance system. But if you look at our exceptionally remarkable women, they make a great change and can make other women dream of something worth dreaming for. Women now are very free than yesterday, they can go out, have fun and work at the same time. Though we still need to make amendments to make sure that we have the opportunity to do anything we set our minds to. Patriarchy is prevailing but women like Zenith Irfan, Amna Baig, and Fatimah Changezi sets a different yet powerful role and dimension for women to follow. Women empowerment is usually hated in society by many people but very few have the courage to speak up for what is right. Harassment is a huge problem but Fatimah Changezi has never faced such a problem which is a stepping stone towards the goal in itself. Some of the women can make a good society. By following the footsteps of women like her, many females are now dreaming to become something more than a wife, daughter, or sister which are roles given by nature and these are the roles that a person acquires in their lifetime to make their name. The courage of a Pakistani woman is a force to be reckoned with. On the other hand, many people don’t realize this power and keep going on in their lives like dead fish. It is time to be like Fatimah Changezi, it is time to go against the flow and stop moving like a dead fish. It is time to be another Fatimah Changezi.
