'Strong Woman': Faiza Defies Hardships with Her Desi-Styled Chow Mein

"I am a strong woman, and I aspire to change my destiny with my determination and willpower." Meet Faiza Siddiqui, a divorced single mother of two who runs a Chinese food stall with her children in the busy, male-dominated streets of Korangi, Karachi. 

Faiza expressed gratitude that the chow mein she prepares with a unique blend of desi flavors is gaining popularity as her signature dish and attracting customers.

In her interview, Faiza told Dialogue Pakistan that as a single parent and working woman, she faces numerous hurdles and challenges every day to meet her financial needs. 

She recalled a job interview where she had to escape after the employer acted inappropriately. At that moment, she decided she would never work for someone else again and chose to use her cooking skills to start a business.

"My relatives mocked me, saying I would now run 'shows' on the streets," she expressed her disappointment with her relatives, who let her down. "My children and I have to tolerate such remarks from men and women on the streets regularly," she added.

Faiza shared that her father is her biggest motivation, always helping her overcome stress in hopeless situations. "Uth bandh kamar kya darta hai. Phir dekh Khuda kya karta hai," she quoted. "My father encourages me to be resilient by reciting these verses to me whenever I am disappointed," she told Dialogue Pakistan.

Explaining her decision to focus on Chinese cuisine instead of traditional food, she said she wanted to stand out in the competitive food market. "It’s because I am educated, and now I am educating my children as well. Education empowers," she emphasized. Faiza also appealed to society to change its stereotypical and patriarchal views about working women and single mothers.

Watch our feature story on the determination and resilience of Faiza Siddiqui, who calls for support and encouragement to empower women in all fields.