Islamabad - A film titled ‘Zahida’, that depicts the brave endeavors of a local Pakistani woman to fight the odds, was screened here Thursday as part of a 16-day International Film Festival on human rights. Highlighting human rights through cinematography, United Nations Information Center (UNIC) arranged the film screening in collaboration with European Union. The film revolves around the life of Zahida Kazmi who is the first female taxi driver in Pakistan and a local legend. Independent, feisty, street-wise, she is a master hustler.
Twice a widower and 56 years old, she is fighting to make a living on the dusty roads of Rawalpindi. Also a mother to seven-year old Zara, she continually juggles her home life with her job behind the wheel. Reciting beautiful poetry in quiet nostalgic moments off the road, Zahida reflects on her fate.
Zahida is a fascinating insight into the trials faced by a determined woman carving her own path within a patriarchal society.
The event was arranged in celebration of 70 years of Universal Declaration of Human Rights while 27 thematic documentaries will be screened in Gujrat, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Mardan, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi and Swat till December 10.
