Woman in Karachi fixes motorcycles to earn living

A woman named Jameela fixes motorcycles to earn a living in Karachi, Shahjahan Khurram reported for Geo News.

Jameela has set up a small shop near the popular Lakhpati Hotel where she sells and changes motorcycle engine oil for customers.

“I have been doing this for the past 35 years,” she said. “I do it for my family — for roti, kapra and makaan,” she added.

Jameela Khatoon said that her business is the only legacy of her deceased husband. Jameela’s husband died of cancer and she lost her adopted son to a disease, after which Jameela had to become the sole breadwinner of her house.

She used to have six labourers at her shop to help her out.

“But they wanted to take over my business by force. I could not let them do that,” she said

The workers threatened her she would “die hungry” if she let them go.

“I accepted their challenge and told them I will not let that happen. It is due to Allah’s will and His love for me that I am still earning my bread here.”

Jameela Khatoon has to feed her four grandchildren and the widow of her adopted son.

“Hum sab saath mein chalte hain (we do everything together),” she said.

Life was easier when she had workers working for her. Now, she opens her shop at 10:30-11:00 am and works till midnight. Jameela Khatoon says people who come by to get their motorcycles serviced always treat her with respect.

“They all address me as khaala (aunt), amma (mother), aunty,” she says, but recalls that she faced catcalls and harassment when she was younger.

“It doesn’t happen anymore,” she added.

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She says that shopkeepers nearby do not bother her.

“I don’t need their support — I give support to them,” she says, adding that if something were to happen to them, she would “stand by them like a wall”.

Jameela wants the government to support her financially to help her set up a bigger shop for her business.

“I wish the government would give me a loan or provide me a shop where I can carry out my work in a better way,” she says. “A shop where I can sell spare parts and fix punctures.”

“If the government is watching this video, then I hope it shakes their conscience a bit,” she says.