Shock and awe the norm for Pakistan’s first female courier

19-year-old Aisha Siddiqua takes a step towards breaking gender stereotypes

Clad in a uniform, 19-year-old Aisha Siddiqua grins as she fixes her cap and sits down after completing her shift as the first female courier of the country.

Aisha cleared her Higher Secondary School Certificate (intermediate) in commerce and has been delivering and collecting packages for a courier company for the past two months or so.

“Young women often don’t get support from their families owing to prejudices,” says Aisha, “but I was lucky enough to have parents and siblings who boosted my morale.”

While her mother is a banker by profession, Aisha’s father works as a lawyer and is an avid reader of science books. “My father usually gets books from abroad, as they aren’t widely available here.”

It was this that prompted Aisha to venture into the field by becoming a courier. “I saw men delivering everything around the city and wondered why I hadn’t seen any women. I contemplated for more than a month, and then finally decided to apply.”

Aisha recalls that after she approached the courier company, the management were perplexed and conducted a series of interviews before bringing her aboard. 

“I went through rigorous training, because the whole system is digitised and one error can disrupt operations elsewhere, because couriers in other parts of the world rely on us.”

While she was repeatedly asked why she wanted to sign up for the job, her willingness proved to them that she was going to stick around.

A typical working day in Aisha’s life starts at 9am sharp, as she gets to work and starts sorting the delivery packages according to their areas to deliver them a little after 12pm. Her shift ends at 7pm, as she spends post-delivery hours picking up consignments to be sent from the city to other places.

Catering to Clifton and DHA these days, Aisha has also delivered in areas such as Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

“People receiving their parcels mostly get shocked because they don’t expect to see a girl, but many women have enquired about my job and some have even shown an interest in becoming couriers themselves.”

While men usually ride motorbikes to make deliveries around the city, Aisha does her rounds in a car accompanied by a driver. “I’ve just started, so I’m happy that I’ve at least taken a step. I do know how to drive, and if need be, I’d drive around as well because now I’m able to design the route according to our deliveries.”

Aisha seems confident about dealing with miscreants, although she believes ignoring them is the best way because her work is a response to all those who think otherwise.

“I won’t mind riding a motorbike either, because I think while there’s a chance of encountering an unpleasant situation on the road, I feel I’d be able to handle those who might want to bother me or try to get in my way.”

Aisha hopes that with women riding bikes on the streets, the day is not far when delivery women going around the city will become a common sight.

“It may sound clichéd but, yes, women can achieve a lot if they get support and, of course, if they have the willpower. I plan to study further and work my way through, and as far as my studies are concerned, flexibility in work hours would allow me to do both.”