Saturday, July 31, 2004 (Lahore):
Forty-year-old Rifaat Haye is one of the only three women to fly for Pakistan International Airlines.
Fourteen years back she did the unthinkable in Pakistani society.
She began flying lessons and made it as one of only three women to fly for Pakistan International Airlines
"My family was quite supportive of me except my husband never wanted a professional wife, so it was a little difficult. But I want to be a role model and encourage younger women to join the profession. I consider it to be like any other profession, so why should it be singled out?" says Rifaat.
It was former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who gave women like Rifaat a break. Since then she's had to make it on her own, battling gender bias and long hours away from home.
"It is more tough to be a professional woman. It is a big ego thing for the men colleagues. I'm now flying the aircraft that I consider ultimate--the 747," she says.
Rifaat's three children are all adults. So she enjoys the luxury of flying prestigious international long haul flights to the United States and Europe. A pilot, wife and mother, she has proved to be quite a trendsetter, inspiring three more women to join the airline.
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Fourteen years back she did the unthinkable in Pakistani society.
She began flying lessons and made it as one of only three women to fly for Pakistan International Airlines
"My family was quite supportive of me except my husband never wanted a professional wife, so it was a little difficult. But I want to be a role model and encourage younger women to join the profession. I consider it to be like any other profession, so why should it be singled out?" says Rifaat.
It was former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who gave women like Rifaat a break. Since then she's had to make it on her own, battling gender bias and long hours away from home.
"It is more tough to be a professional woman. It is a big ego thing for the men colleagues. I'm now flying the aircraft that I consider ultimate--the 747," she says.
Rifaat's three children are all adults. So she enjoys the luxury of flying prestigious international long haul flights to the United States and Europe. A pilot, wife and mother, she has proved to be quite a trendsetter, inspiring three more women to join the airline.
Direct Link
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