The literary world in Pakistan will always speak about Ameena Saiyid with utmost respect. Her contribution has been significant in changing the dynamics for women in the field of literature in the country. Ameena Saiyid is the recipient of the Sitara-e- Imtiaz, the third-highest civilian award in 2018 for excellence and courage in the field of literature and publishing.
In 1988 she was appointed CEO of Oxford University Press (OUP) Pakistan, making her the first woman to lead a multinational corporation in the country. She was also the first woman to become President of the Overseas Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) in its 150 years’ history. She was given the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2005 for her services to women’s rights, education, and intellectual property rights in Pakistan, as well as Anglo-Pakistan relations. She also established the Karachi Literature Festival of Oxford Pakistan in 2010. She is currently the co-founder of the Adab Festival of which she has held four. For her efforts to promote literary culture, she also received the esteemed French accolade of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in February 2013.
Ameena Saiyid has broken all barriers for writers across the country in her pursuit to spread knowledge through reading and writing. As the head of an international publishing business for decades, her name is attached to thousands of books printed within the country, especially school textbooks of world standard but which were culturally suited for Pakistan and mirrored the local environment.
An incredible force of determination and vast knowledge, she remains loved in this field. She has been a mentor for thousands of women across the country who know her simply as the ‘Mother of Literature’ in Pakistan. Today, Ameena Saiyid sits on the board of her own publishing house, Lightstone Publishers which she runs on a full time basis as its Managing Director.
Her Journey
Ameena was living in Lahore and teaching at the Lahore American School when she attended a book fair organized by the Oxford University Press. She enjoyed the book fair and on her next visit to Karachi to see her parents, she applied for a job there and got the position based in Lahore. She didn’t think anything at that moment; whether she would be rejected or hesitated about going in that day for the fateful interview. She wanted to apply and she always knew she was going to work despite the fact that even at that time it was unusual for a woman to work. This was some odd forty years ago that started her off on her incredible journey. She relates her self confidence came from the foundations of her education.
She was extremely blessed to have parents who put her into a private school, Karachi Grammar School (KGS). This education grounded her and formed her thought processes. Ameena is a huge supporter of different aspects of writing and always wanted to expand upon this. When she left OUP, she just spent her energy into forming her own business.
She can pick and choose different genres of work from the pool of talented writers of Pakistan but there is nothing like discovering new work and having her own company gives her the leeway to do this. Today she feels proud to say that Lightstone, her publishing company which she started from the ground up, is a fully women-led, indigenous business.
The Challenges that Made Her
Ameena faced several challenges when she first started especially as a woman here. She tells us how men got slightly taken aback when they would see her turn up at a work meeting by herself. There have been many avenues where she was the only or the first woman in the business or at a meeting or in the office to begin with. Ameena has worked in all male dominated workplaces at one point. Over time Pakistan has seen women come into work more and take up higher and senior positions but this was still over time. There is still a void here. That will always create challenges for women like her or otherwise.
There were also problems of subtle harassment thus she had to be very strong through such an environment. She had to learn to avoid many uncomfortable situations and she was pretty much alone in all of this. There were problems of her voice not being heard or her ideas being sidelined but she fought through this in life. One must be strong and try to push through.
Nothing has come easy and she has had to face many issues. However, Ameena feels she is today as all these things made her stronger. One must take a stand where there is wrong however hard it is. She thinks women do have to work harder and more intelligently to position themselves.
Women’s Empowerment
Ameena believes women should work and that will be their financial empowerment. To be educated or seek knowledge is how women in general here will go far. That is why we should set up opportunities for them. She made knowledge and the pursuit of literature her life and that is what has formed her so she encourages all women.
And if they don’t have the opportunities, then the ones who are in positions to do so, must empower them with knowledge through educational programs and give them the encouragement and guidance to go further.
Girls Education
The educational system in general is in severe need of reforms. However, Ameena says that is of utmost importance that we not lose this time period to educate our girls and women. Women make up approximately 51% of our country and we have failed miserably in this manner. There is time for the people to come forward on this. Only a collective effort will make this possible now.
The People that Surround Her
Ameena’s husband was extremely supportive in everything she has done. He never voiced any concerns or placed any hindrances in her path to working – as is the societal thing for many husbands to do from her time. In fact, he has been there throughout as her equal partner and her close friend. She says “We have a small but closely-knit family. We live and work in partnership with each other”.
She is truly grateful to her parents for giving her the best education and a literary environment at home with great emphasis on reading. She is also the niece of Quratul Ain Hyder, one of the most outstanding and influential literary names in Urdu literature
The Importance of the Literature Festivals
Ameena embraces change and innovation in her stride and believes that even if technology is transcending and taking over our lifestyles, it cannot read for you. Yet, the same technology has helped the publishing business. Reading and writing is vital for the human mind to grow and acknowledge other ideas. We learn so we can meet thought processes of other humans across the world. And this is what the festivals have done for us in making way for the exchange of this art form. Ameena told about the festivals created, the people who came were thrilled that something like this existed here. There were authors from all across the world who have come together with her people. They created a safe space for writers as well as readers and most of all enabled the audience to interact with their favorite authors.
When they first started out with the festival, these were new ideas for the people in Pakistan. The audience knew of things out there in the world due to their own worldly experience but this was so new to the people here. It took on immediately! The literature festival is an exchange of a wealth of knowledge amongst the people of the country and to the rest of the world. She is rightfully proud of the fact the Adab Festival is a huge success every year since its inception and has grown immensely. The throngs of crowds are a testament to the center of cultural exchange which has been vital to our country.
The Future of Pakistan
According to Ameena, the future of Pakistan is through education alone. Our mindsets and the culture can only change if the people have the power of knowledge. She talks about how Pakistan must refocus its efforts on establishing better schools and better systems within the schools already there. It is on the onus of the government and authorities to give this to the people. The people’s voices must be freed through educated mindsets. Should this not happen we will never go beyond a certain aspect of our economic concerns. I know that there are schools here but they are barely running on meagre funds. The lack of resources that are put into the schooling systems is a major problem. This needs to change. There must be more investments, better school management and governance, and redirection of the budget to increase and improve the quality of public education.
Investing in Pakistan
Ameena emphasized on investing in people first. The people of Pakistan and the country are its best assets. But this is not happening rapidly or efficiently enough and it is showing.
Mera Pakistan
Ameena’s thoughts on the country are inspiring as only a true leader would portray. She wants to see the people’s voices come forward. Without this there will be no democracy in Pakistan. It is time that this happens for the sake of creating a better footing for Pakistan in the world today. Times are very tough right now, and there is a great depression about the future of this country.
Through all of this she remains hopeful. She will never lose hope that things will get better. She has complete faith in this unlike many others. Perhaps Ameena comes from a place which has seen many upheavals and has experienced many things as a citizen here. Pakistan has gone through many chaotic times yet it keeps going on and survives. She believes it is the people who make Pakistan keep on going. However, the voice of the people cannot be muted. It must be upheld by the Constitution and given adequate platforms to make this country prosper.
