Shukriya Khanum (c.1935 – 14 May 2017, Lahore[1]) was a Pakistani pilot.[2] She was the country's first woman to become a commercial pilot in 1959.[1] Though not allowed to fly commercially herself, she spent her career with the national airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) teaching others.
Shukriya Khanum | |
|---|---|
| Died | 14 May 2017 Lahore |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Alma mater | Government College, Karachi |
| Occupation | Pilot |
| Organization | PIA |
| Relatives | Dr. Shahid Masood |
Education edit
Shukriya graduated from Government College Karachi in 1959.[3] Shukriya Khanum took her flying lessons from Lahore Flying Academy at Walton Airport, Lahore.[4][5]
Career edit
Shukriya obtained her flying license immediately after her graduation in 1959.[6][7] She started her career with the national airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).[8][9] However at that time, rules did not permit women to fly a commercial plane, so Shukriya took up a job of flying instructor at the PIA flight club where she taught flying to new cadets.[10][11] She would also take flying enthusiasts on rides at the Karachi flying club.[12][13]
In the late 1970s, when martial law was imposed, during the General Zia-ul-Haq regime, rules had become strict and many laws were implemented that objected the idea of men and women working in the same area and so Shukriya was barred from flying at all, as Zia's rules objected men and women from flying together.[14][15] Shukriya was then restricted to the job of an on-ground flight instructor.[16] During her career, Shukriya was not able to serve as a pilot.[17][18] The first female commercial pilot, who could fly without any gender restrictions was Rabia, who obtained her license thirty years after Shukriya.[19][20] In 1989, Rabia met Shukriya in Karachi.[21][22] Shukriya was happy to see her and said in her own words "to focus on professionalism and never let anybody think that because you are a woman you cannot do that".[23][24]
Death edit
Khanum died on 14 May 2017 at the age of 82 due to liver cancer[25] which she had been fighting for several years. She died in Shaukat Khanum Hospital, Lahore.[26][27]
References edit
- ^ a b "Shukriya Khanum – Pakistan's first female commercial pilot dies". The Express Tribune. 2017-05-15. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ Ali, Nasir. "Important general Knowledge of Pakistan".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ theindependent. "first female pilot".
- ^ "Pakistan first female pilot Shukriya Khanum is no more". Pakistan Aviation. 2017-05-15. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Pakistan's first female pilot Shukriya Khanum did the impossible back in 1959". Daily Pakistan Global. 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Who was Pakistan's first female commercial pilot?". Sports News. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ MEDIA, PT AKURAT SENTRA; www.akurat.co (16 May 2017). "Pilot Komersial Wanita Pertama Pakistan Tutup Usia". akurat.co (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ bransynario (8 March 2018). "Pakistani female pilots".
- ^ "Shukriya Khanum". www.samaa.tv. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Women: to infinity and beyond! ·". HerCareer. 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Shukriya Khanum - The First Pakistani Woman to Obtain Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) Passes Away - History of PIA - Forum". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Pakistan's legendary Fly Girl is no more". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ InpaperMagazine, From (2014-03-09). "Women's day: Shukriya, Miss Shukriya!". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Pakistan's first female pilot Shukriya Khanum did the impossible back in 1959". Pakistan Defence. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Shukriya Khanum Archives". Mashion. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ pakpaedia. "First female pilot of Pakistan".
- ^ "Shukriya khanum". Newsline. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ Zakaria, Rafia (2014-03-08). "HerStory: Seven defining moments for the Pakistani woman". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Shukriya Khanum: Pakistan's first female commercial pilot dies". BBC News. 2017-05-15. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ Khalid, Lubna. "Women - flying high!". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ Tahir, Zulqernain (2006-01-26). "All-women crew pilots plane for 1st time". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Sky is the Limit". Newsline. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "History of PIA - Pakistan International Airlines". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Social media celebrates as PIA female pilots fly challenging Gilgit flight". The Express Tribune. 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Pakistan's first female pilot Shukriya Khanum dies at 82". Daily Pakistan Global. 2017-05-14. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Pakistan's first female Pilot Shukriya Khanum dies at 82 – Abb Takk News". Retrieved 2020-11-27.
- ^ "Shukriya Khanum, Pakistan's first female pilot, passes away at 82". International Business Times UK. 2017-05-16. Retrieved 2020-11-27.