Climbing to the top
Nazia Parveen is the first female to represent Pakistan at an international arena in rock climbing. She is not only a successful rock climber but also a para glider. She represented Pakistan in International Rock Climbing Competition in Singapore. She has been victorious in 32 consecutive competitions of rock climbing. She has played four games against men and won all of them. She terms that,
“A big achievement because it is generally considered that women are ‘weak’ and ‘bechari and cannot compete with men at any level.”
Ms Parveen has struggled hard to become what she is today. She first came to know about the rock climbing when her university took her to Margala Mountains, where there was a climbing competition. She participated in that and realized that rock climbing challenges her and she wants to continue it in her life.
She is from from FATA, Bajaur Agency which is considered a very strict area for girls. Initially Parveen faced resistance even from my family. The neighbors, the relatives questioned her family. They asked questions like where is she going? In a male dominant society like Pakistan, Ms Parveen said that women face problems all the time.
“Women are not accepted in simple outdoor activities and I was going for the extreme sports and that was difficult for society to handle.”
But she said she is not the one who gives up.
“If you are passionate, family’s resistance become less, and even other people start to accept you,” she said.
When she won international competitions, media started giving her coverage and that helped in changing people’s point of view.
She said that the trend is slowly changing as people are starting to accept that girls can participate in sports and there is no harm in it.
“Now the same people appreciate me They even come to watch my competitions and send their daughters,” she said.
She not only faced resistance from the society but also had to face a hard time due to politics in the Pakistan sports.
“When people start creating difficulties that is when it hurts you,” she said.
She narrated an incident where she won two national level competitions organized by the Alpine club which is a government owned club. After her victory they asked her to sign a bond that she would only participate in their competitions.
“I was playing 25-30 competitions per year; how could I sign that bond?” So next time when they held national competitions, they did not allow her to play.
Ms Parveen also talked about how Pakistani players don’t succeed internationally.
“The reason is not that we are not good players, it is the incompetent people at the top and the politics.”
She thinks that proper sports industry does not exist for sports like rock climbing or paragliding, the only focus is on cricket and even there is lots of politics.
She said that if the government can’t facilitate, at least it can sponsor. It can make training centers. Many people are training for rock climbing at national level. There is a wide scope for the government to invest in, but it does not do that.
“Players are doing whatever they can through their individual hard work.”
Nazia thinks that education for women is quite important. She has completed her M.Phil in International Relations from National Defense University Islamabad. She is currently working as a media analyst in ISPR. Besides that, she runs two clubs near Islamabad where she conducts training sessions for females. She also gives motivational speeches in universities. She said that female participants have increased since she started her club. “There were only 10 girls. Now there are over 300,” she said. Her team also goes to different universities and motivates girls to get registered.
In the future she wishes to see high number of female players representing Pakistan internationally and want to give a message to the world that Pakistani women are not just confined to the four walls. When given a chance they can beat anyone.
Also, she wants young girls to stay positive. “Looking at the positive side of things encourages you to do something big."
