29-Yr-Old Becomes First Pakistani Woman to Join Bomb Disposal Unit
29-year-old Rafia belongs to a highly educated family but was motivated to join the police force seven years ago.
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A 29-year-old woman from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become the first Pakistani woman to join the Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) in the restive province that frequently witnesses terror attacks.
Rafia Qaseem Baig, who joined the police force as a constable seven years ago, will work in BDU after completing her 15-day training along with 31 other male members at Nowshera's School of Explosive Handling.
During her training, she will learn about the types of bombs, their identification and ways to defuse them.
Rafia, who belongs to a highly educated family, said a blast near a sessions court seven years ago motivated her to join the force.
She completed her master's degree in International Relations. She then pursued another master's degree in Economics and worked at International Rescue Committee where she developed a passion for law and enrolled in an LLB programme that is currently underway.
Given her academic qualifications, she was offered jobs in many companies and non-government organisations. However, she chose to join the police force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where extremists were overtly targeting security forces.
After her appointment, she was asked to undergo training sessions in areas including Adezai, Michni and Salman Khel in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. These were the declared red zones at that time.
She spent 10 days patrolling these localities with a large number of male police personnel.
More than 600 women are serving in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police department in different capacities from junior clerk to deputy superintendent.
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