A girl student from the erstwhile Tribal Areas is challenging gender stereotypes by outperforming many male students.

Hoorain Khan topped in Pakistan in the Foundations in Accountancy (FA1) paper of the Association of Chartered Certified Accounting (ACCA) by obtaining 98 marks out of 100 in the paper.

She was born in Surrani village in Bannu district, a far-flung area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The ACCA is considered a tough course to pursue. “Some people tried to discourage me. They said it was very tough and the failure ratio was very high. However, I opted for it. When you have a supportive family, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals.”

“I was born in a conservative rural area, where women are discouraged from receiving education. However, my late father had a dream that his daughter should got the best education. My father is my hero. He is my role model in every respect. He encouraged and motivated me. He never stopped from doing anything. One day, his dream will come true.”

Hoorain’s family has shifted from Bannu to Peshawar to facilitate her education. “My family left our relatives and our village so that I could get education in a good institute. I have justified their decision,” she says.

“Initially, when we came to Peshawar, it was difficult to adjust. But with the passage of time, we got used to how things are here. I gained more confidence after I spent some time with other students. I improved my skills and learnt to deal with people. For a woman, the trust and support of her family and friends is everything. The feeling that they believe in me makes me strong,” she says.

Ms Khan has set another goal for her future. “I will take the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination after graduating. I know it is a tough task, but I will try my best,” she says.

“Even in this age of information, some people don’t allow their daughters to get out of their houses. Now is not the time for girls to stay behind. They must get education. As Malala says: ‘One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world’.”

“In a conservative society like ours, women can only succeed if they have the support of their families. Every woman has the potential to succeed. The only thing that keeps them away from achieving their goals and targets is continued discouragement by society. People should encourage their children as my father encouraged me,” says Hoorain Khan

Hoorain says her family is sometimes worried about her when she gets late from college. “There have been many stories of violence against women in the media. My family is also worried sometimes,” she says.

“We have been blessed with a life by the Almighty and we should make the most of it. My father used to tell me that life was too short to waste our time,” she says.

After her father’s death, her mother is now heading the family. “In a conservative society like ours, women can only succeed if they have the support of their families. Every woman has the potential and skills to succeed. The only thing that keeps them away from achieving their goals and targets is the continued discouragement by society. People should encourage their children as my father encouraged me,” she adds.

To a question about the response of her relatives and colleagues to her performance in the examination, she says: “People become more open to you. They cooperate and welcome you when you do something, especially the thing they assume is difficult. My teachers and relatives have started taking more interest in me and my future.”

“People in our society complain a lot about cultural barriers. I love my culture and traditions. They are not barriers to advancement in life. Overcoming the fear of what others will say is the only way forward for the women in our country,” she says.

Her educational institute confirmed that she was awarded a scholarship. They have also requested the government to recognise her achievement and support her education.

“Education is important for both men and women. In fact, it is far more important for a woman to be educated in our part of the world. If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation. Education is an integral part of every individual’s life but when girls are educated, countries become stronger and prosperous. We lag behind developed nations because our women are lagging behind in education,” Hoorain says.

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Peshawar. He tweets at @Wasim_Chashmato