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Who is Kashish Chaudhary, Balochistan's first Hindu woman assistant commissioner?
On Monday, Kashish and her father, Girdhari Lal, met Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti in Quetta. Image: X/@dpr_gob
A 25-year-old Pakistani Hindu woman has made history by becoming the first female from the minority community in Balochistan to be appointed as an Assistant Commissioner in the restive province.
Kashish Chaudhary earned the role after clearing the Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam.
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On Monday, Kashish and her father, Girdhari Lal, travelled to Quetta to meet Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti.
So, who is Kashish Chaudhary, and how did she reach this point?
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Here's a look at her journey.
Who is Kashish Chaudhary?
The 25-year-old has made history by becoming the first woman from the Pakistani Hindu minority in Balochistan to be appointed as an Assistant Commissioner in the province.
She belongs to Noshki, a remote town in Chagai district, and earned the position after passing the Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam.
On Monday, Kashish and her father, Girdhari Lal, met Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti in Quetta.
During the meeting, she shared her aim to work for the progress of women, support minority communities, and help in the overall development of the province.
'It is a matter of great pride for me that my daughter has become an assistant commissioner due to her hard work and commitment,' Lal told reporters.
Lal, who works as a mid-level trader, said his daughter had always wanted to study and make a difference in the lives of women.
Chief Minister Bugti said it was a proud moment for the country when people from minority communities reached such positions through dedication and effort.
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'Kashish is a symbol of pride for the nation and Balochistan,' he said.
In a conversation with SAMAA TV, Kashish stated that her preparation took three years, with at least eight hours of study each day.
'Discipline, hard work, and the desire to contribute to society have driven me throughout this journey,' she said.
A part of growing minority community
Kashish has carved out her place among several Hindu women in Pakistan who have made their mark in male-dominated professions, breaking social, religious, and cultural barriers to reach important positions.
In recent years, more women from the Hindu community have stepped into roles that were once considered out of reach.
She belongs to Noshki, a remote town in Chagai district. Image: X
In July 2022, Manisha Ropeta became the first Hindu woman to be appointed as Superintendent of Police in Karachi, where she continues to serve.
Pushpa Kumari Kohli, a 35-year-old sub-inspector in Karachi, said that Hindu women have the ability and determination to succeed.
'I also passed the Sindh police Public Services Examination. There are many more Hindu girls out there waiting to educate themselves and become something,' Kohli, who belongs to a scheduled caste, said.
Suman Pawan Bodani continues to serve as a civil judge in Pakistan's Hyderabad, after being first appointed in her hometown of Shahdadkot in Sindh in 2019.
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Sindh politician Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said that with family support, many young Hindu girls have shown a strong will to study and take up higher education, PTI reported.
'Our young women are doing us proud. We have doctors, civil servants, police officers, etc in Sindh,' he said.
He also pointed out that while Sindh has seen issues like the abduction and forced conversion of young Hindu girls, improving education facilities for the Hindu community could help address these problems.
Hindus make up the largest minority group in Pakistan. As per official data, about 75 lakh Hindus live in the country. However, the community estimates the number to be over 90 lakh.
Most of Pakistan's Hindu population lives in Sindh province.
With inputs from agencies
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