
Daughters-in-law should go out to work, says Asma Abbas
Asma's message for her daughters-in-law, particularly Sameen, was both relevant and empowering. She shared her thoughts on the role of women in her family, emphasising that she values their education and believes they should use it to its fullest potential.
"I encourage my daughters-in-law to work because they've earned their degrees, and those shouldn't go to waste?" she stated.
In a society where many women are often expected to pause their careers after marriage, Asma's supportive stance on women pursuing professional goals was refreshing and much needed.
During the discussion, Asma was asked about her two other daughters-in-law, to which she revealed, "Yes, they work as well." She stressed the importance of maintaining a home while also acknowledging that there's no need for women to be confined to house duties. "What will they do sitting at home?" she added. "We have house help."
Sameen, who praised her in-laws for being kind and supportive, fondly recalled her first day in the family, when she had stayed up late, only to wake up to a welcoming and humorous response instead of a scolding. "I was expecting to be scolded for waking up late, but instead, they were really warm," Sameen shared.
In a lighthearted moment, Asma added that she enjoys when women dress up in the morning for their work. "I like it when women dress up in the morning and go out for their work," she said with a smile. When asked about Sameen's habit of sleeping in, Asma responded with a playful tone, "I don't mind her waking up late. It reminds me of [my daughter] Zara, she also loves her sleep!"
Asma's candid statements received widespread praise from viewers. One user commended her by saying, "This type of mindset is rare in Pakistani society!" and another one added, "Society needs mothers-in-law like you, you're a gem."
However, there were some viewers who felt that Asma should not be concerned with whether her daughter-in-law chooses to work.
"Oh God, Pakistani women are never going to change. If a woman wants to sit at home, even that is a problem now," penned one commenter. "Why does a mother-in-law get to say anything at all about whether one works or roams in a night dress? She's missed the whole point while trying to act like she's nailed it."

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The anthology refuses to impose closure on a tradition still in formation. More than a collection of texts, the anthology becomes a map of sensibility — a way to trace how writers have responded to the dilemmas of language, belonging, and history. Its significance lies not only in the range of material it gathers, but in the perspective, it models. By treating Pakistani English literature as a living tradition — shaped by argument, experiment, and dissent — it invites readers to see it not as a supplement to Urdu and regional literatures, but as a vital dimension of contemporary Pakistani culture. At a time when cultural identities are often reduced to singular narratives, this volume emphasises the value of complexity. It affirms that literature is most vital when it admits contradiction, when it resists the consolations of nostalgia, and when it dares to question the very categories that define it. In the New Century ultimately stands as both an archive and a provocation — a testament to the enduring conviction that literature, even when contested, remains one of the most powerful ways a society can imagine itself anew. In the New Century: An Anthology of Pakistani Literature in English Compiled and Edited by Muneeza Shamsie Published by Oxford University Press Pakistan, 2025 Pages: 600 Price PKR 2495/- ISBN: 978-0-19-906091-7 The writer is a Pakistan-born and Austria-based poet in Urdu and English. He teaches South Asian literature and culture at Vienna All facts and information are the sole repsonsibility of the writer