DERA GHAZI KHAN: A woman in Dera Ghazi Khan is breaking all gender stereotypes to ride a motorcycle as regular commute for a noble cause – to teach students at a school.
Thirty-three-year-old Mahjabeen dons a veil (burqa) before accelerating her journey on a motorbike that approximately covers 26 kilometers for her to reach Government Primary School No 2 located in Basti Kalairi from home. The school is located in Koh Suleiman area, while the lady resides in Sokar in the Taunsa Tehsil.
Mahjabeen is a graduate from Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. She holds master’s degrees in Political Science and Education.
The courageous lady has no fear of security while riding through deserted areas of the town. “I pass through a route that was once infested with terrorists to reach the school,” she says adding that some terrorists were killed in a raid by Rangers last year but the thought of their presence still haunts the area.
She is the only female teacher in the school, besides two male teachers. A number of village girls mustered courage as well as motivation to enroll in the school where one of their tutors is a woman.
She aspires to opt for a school near her residence to keep up with household responsibilities and family.
In an interview with a local journalist, Mahjabeen said: “The residents trust and protect me as I have been visiting the area daily for the past six years. At first, I was petrified due to the conservative views of the tribal leaders. But my husband and my mother-in-law gave me a lot of strength and support, which is why I am able to do what I do.”
