Nazia Jabeen is an Information Group officer, posted as Lahore Arts Council executive director in the Information and Culture Department of Punjab. During her career, she has worked in several departments in different capacities, and besides that, she is a sort of social media influencer. Wherever she is posted, that department becomes abuzz with activities. Quite familiar to Lahore’s cultural and literary circles, Nazia Jabeen is a woman of substance. The Minute Mirror talked to her as a figure to mark the women’s week.
When asked to summarise her career, she said, “Prior to joining as the Lahore Arts Council executive director, I worked as an additional secretary (Culture) at the Information and Culture Department of Punjab.”
Explaining the role of her department, she said the Information and Culture Department plays a pivotal role in promoting the culture of Punjab through its autonomous bodies like the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture, Lahore Arts Council and the Punjab Council of Arts. Previously, she has worked in different positions in the Punjab Industry Department, Pakistani Railways and different departments of the Information and Broadcasting, Islamabad.
Do you think that your career has been successful so far?
She smiled and said that she was blessed to have a diverse experience, which helped her to cope with different challenges in her life. “Diversity always helps people grow,” she said, adding that monotonous routine makes jobs and life dull.
Nazia Jabeen passed the CSS exams in 2006, and before that, she had to meet the qualification criteria.
Let me ask her how her journey to academic and, later on, professional career success started.
“I graduated from the Government College of Gujranwala with subjects of Statistics and Psychology, and later did Masters’s in English Literature from the Punjab University. Later, I did post-graduate diplomas in development support communication and international relations. After having the right qualifications, she thought, she was ready to take up the CSS exams.
“Information Group was the choice close to my heart in CSS exams and I have never regretted my decision,” she said. Nazia Jabeen takes the role of the Information Group in high esteem, as this is the department which shapes and regulates Pakistan’s information landscape. The growth of media shows the sector is thriving.
Success has many fathers, but, no doubt several people and factors stand behind a person’s success. When asked to recollect the people and factors, which in your opinion, played a pivotal role in shaping her career journey, she came up with a very predictable answer.
“My parents, especially my mothers’ efforts played a key role in making me an independent, confident working woman,” she said. The other factor behind her success is her own determination and strong will to succeed.
“When you decide to do something, plan it well and do it well; there should be no point of return. I always believe in taking a step and putting all efforts to succeed,” she said.
How can women be confident workers in the workplace?
Nazia Jabeen did not take much to respond: “Women can be confident only if they trust their abilities. When you are in the field, you are not man or woman – you are just a worker, a colleague, an officer.”
In a way, her message is that gender is only for identity in papers, the cruel field of professionalism demands a gruelling routine to compete against all odds.
When asked if there have been major problems women face in their professional journeys, she said that women have to take care of two fronts – office and home.
“Working women have responsibilities at home. Being a mother is very challenging for a working woman. Sometimes you face criticism (from family) despite playing multiple roles. I feel working woman live tough life but their perseverance, tolerance and acceptance of different opinions make their life easy.”
When asked what privileges women workers get in offices and in society, she said that she does not see any special privilege for a woman in office and society.
“Instead, they face challenges and struggle more to be successful in their multiple roles.”
Nazia Jabeen is very active on social media.
“As I belong to the Information Group, I must know the public pulse; social media is wonderful to interact with the public, and knowing what the public is feeling.”
Where do you see yourself after 10 years?
“I can foresee myself as a more mature, and more experienced person in office and a role model for my children.” The response speaks volumes. She has not set ambitious goals for herself. A simple life is a life well spent.
