Since picking up a wrench as one of the first female car mechanics in Pakistan, Uzma Nawaz has faced two common reactions: shock and surprise, and then a bit of respect.

Uzma’s journey wasn’t easy
The 24-year-old spent years overcoming entrenched gender stereotypes and financial hurdles en route to earning a mechanical engineering degree and getting a job with an auto repairs garage in Multan. “I took it up as a challenge against all odds and the meagre financial resources of my family,” Nawaz told AFP. “When they see me doing this type of work they are really surprised.”
Anything is possible
Nawaz hails from an impoverished town of Dunyapur in Punjab. She relied on scholarships and often skipped meals when she was broke while pursuing her degree. Her achievements are rare. Women have long struggled for their rights in Pakistan. Especially in rural areas, where they are often encouraged to marry young and devote themselves entirely to family over career. “No hardship could break my will and motivation,” she says proudly.

The Reward
The sacrifices cleared the way for steady work at a Toyota dealership in Multan following graduation, she adds. Just a year into the job, and promoted to general repairs, Nawaz moves with the ease of a seasoned pro around the dealership’s garage. She removes tyres from raised vehicles, inspects engines and handles a variety of tools — a sight that initially jolted some customers.
Changing Mindsets
“I was shocked to see a young girl lifting heavy spare tyres and then putting them back on vehicles after repairs,” customer Arshad Ahmad told AFP. But Nawaz’s drive and expertise have impressed colleagues, who say she can more than hold her own. “Whatever task we give her she does it like a man with hard work and dedication,” said coworker M Attaullah.

She has also convinced some of those who doubted her ability to make it in a male-dominated work environment, including members of her own family. “There is no need in our society for girls to work at workshops, it doesn’t seems nice, but it is her passion,” said her father Muhammad Nawaz. “She can now set up the machinery and can work properly. I too am very happy.” This story was originally featured in Dawn.