Where would you find a teacher and a computer trainer? In a school? Well, I found them at a petrol station on Shara-e-Faisal, Karachi, filling gasoline in customer’s car, motorbikes and buses!
Tania, Esther and a few other females are making some kind of history, and controversy, in the oil scene. Called sales promoters, these women are the first female gas fillers in Pakistan (and perhaps many parts of the world).
Ayesha Malik was born in a rich family, not with a silver spoon in her mouth, but a gas nozzle. Her father, Malik Khuda Baksh owns several petrol pumps in Pakistan. For the past nine years, Ayesha has been the manager of one of the stations owned by her dad. It was her idea to hire women to fill up gas in her station.
“Since I saw women working in foreign franchise restaurants, I thought why not in my station? It is a decision I have not regretted. Women are far better workers. They are punctual, more dedicated, neat in appearance and professional. They have had a good, competitive effect on the male employees too. The guys do not want to be outdone by a bunch of females,” Ayesha told Dawn Magazine.
The girls have been working for over six months now. It was not smooth sailing for them in the beginning. Tania, a young worker recollected her experience. “Women would stop and lecture us saying we should not degrade ourselves by pumping gasoline. Men would say, couldn’t you find something else to do? Then they would give us their business cards saying they would help us find some other job.”
The worst thing Esther experienced was the attitude. “Some men think that because I work in a petrol pump, I have low morals. They would try to flirt and tease. Some even said, it is all right for you to work here because you are a Christian, but why are Muslim girls working here!”
Ayesha Malik was expecting it all and was prepared. “This is Pakistan. Many view working women with contempt. Women working at a petrol pump were unheard of. Some roadside Romeos thought it would be easier for them to approach the girls out in the open and they did. But we took care of that. The first Eve teasers were given a sound thrashing by the security guards. The boys ran away and spread the word. No serious flirt ever returned.”
Ayesha added, “Our pumps are so safe that we have two women working in the evening shifts. One of the biggest concerns the parents of these women had was safety. I am very concerned myself and try to provide the girls with a safe and professional environment. No female employee is sent home by herself at night.”
Esther added, “Most people think that pumping gas is a man’s job, but I am happy doing it. The money is good. As a primary school teacher, I made only Rs1200 per month. Here my salary is Rs4500.” Then Tania voiced: “I made Rs3000 teaching computer courses. This is physically tiring, but there is no mental pressure. I also like working outdoors.”
But how do the customers react? A couple of them I spoke to had a mixed reaction. Ashfaque said, “When my car needs petrol, I don’t really care who is pumping it. It is good to see females get this job opportunity. I think these girls are a bit shy. They need to improve on how they greet customers.”
Another customer who was a bit sullen and refused to give his name said, “I think women should not work at all, except from their homes. It’s a disgrace to see these women being exploited at the petrol pumps. I was so disgusted at the sight of females pumping petrol that I pulled up in front of the male gas attendant, refusing to let female fill petrol for me.”
Arshad, a motorbike rider said, “Pakistan has become so expensive that both men and women need to work. If women can work in other fields, why not here?” When asked if he would let his wife work in a petrol pump, Arshad immediately shot back. “No way! I would like her to work in an office.”
How did the colleagues of these female workers view them?
Mazhar, who is from Faisalbad and is at his first job in Karachi, said: I had never dreamt that I would have a female worker next to me in a petrol pump. I think it is all right as long as we don’t have too many of them.”
Azeem said, “It felt very, very strange but I guess this is the demand of changing times. I try to not think of them as girls, but simply as co-workers.”
Would Khuda Baksh have allowed his daughter to manage his petrol pump if he had sons? (He has only two daughters) “I think so. Daughters are more reliable. If I had sons they would probably have run off to America.” He added, I was in India recently for a meeting. Some of the petrol pump owners there were thrilled and said they too would hire women to fill gasoline at their pumps. I am very proud of my daughter, Ayesha, she has started a good tradition. There are 55 per cent women in the world, how long can we keep them away from all jobs?”
Where would you find a teacher and a computer trainer? In a school? Well, I found them at a petrol station on Shara-e-Faisal, Karachi, filling gasoline in customer’s car, motorbikes and buses!
Ayesha Malik was expecting it all and was prepared. “This is Pakistan. Many view working women with contempt. Women working at a petrol pump were unheard of. Some roadside Romeos thought it would be easier for them to approach the girls out in the open and they did. But we took care of that. The first Eve teasers were given a sound thrashing by the security guards. The boys ran away and spread the word. No serious flirt ever returned.”
