ISLAMABAD: Adeela Rehman works as a human resource manager in Thar Coal Block-II Coal Electricity Integration project with her Pakistani and Chinese colleagues to play a part in the development of her country.
In talks with Xinhua, Rehman said that she got an equal opportunity as men to showcase her professional skills and make a mark, adding that the project not only enhances her managerial skills but also positions her as a beacon of empowerment for women in her community.
The project, located in the remote Thar district of Pakistan’s south Sindh province and built by China Machinery Engineering Corporation, has a major power plant under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to help the country meet its electricity demands by using locally available coal.
“During my work experience at the project, I found that empowering women resonates deeply with CPEC as it provides good opportunities for skillful women to pursue their dreams and break through societal barriers,” Rehman added.
In its initial phase, the center focused on producing uniforms for employees of Chinese companies. Equipped with modern machinery, the center is poised to evolve into a garment factory, wherein locally crafted dresses will be distributed and sold throughout Balochistan province.
Abdullah said that women who were previously earning meager incomes from home-based work are now able to secure substantial earnings, and are contributing significantly to their families’ financial well-being.
CPEC’s Thar Coal Block-II Coal Electricity Integration project also provided local uneducated women farmers an opportunity to break stereotypes by incorporating them in a skilled workforce after a six-month rigorous training as dump truck drivers.
Rani Kolhi, a mother of three, defeated hunger and distress by standing up for herself and her kids to be a professional dump truck driver, a job many strong men in her area hesitated to do.
“I knew it would be challenging to stand up against stereotypes, but CPEC acted as a driving factor to help me recognize my worth and strength. The journey was hard, and I had to face skepticism from the society and challenges both on professional and personal fronts, but I believed in success, and today working as a senior driver I am not only financially independent but also a source of inspiration for other women,” Kolhi told Xinhua.
