Periods, sex, body shaming, harassment, misogyny, dating. These are not topics of discussion that are openly discussed in Pakistani households or amongst friends. But packaged as comedy, taboo themes elicit raucous laughter and cheers in packed auditoriums. 

Amtul Baweja (31) digital content creator and comedian has been performing since 2011 when she was university student, but she didn’t feel comfortable doing comedy until she joined South Asia’s first all-female improve-comedy group, Khawatoons in 2016. “My confidence boosted performing with women. Before comedy felt very male-dominated and automatically men would take funnier roles or audience would find man funnier and make woman feel like she was trying too hard,” Baweja told DW. 

Khawatoons was started by one of Pakistan’s best-known comedians Faiza Saleem. She started troupe so women could have safe space to express themselves freely and be able “to talk about difficult things through comedy,” Saleem told publication. Robina Ahmed (64) is a retired government official who started doing stand-up comedy four years ago. She, too found artistic refuge in another Pakistani feminist stand-up troupe, Auratnaak, after mostly performing in comedy groups with “young guys,” where she did not feel as free to explore issues she wanted to.

Ahmed broke further barriers recently by performing an entire solo set to a sold-out hall day after her retirement.  Amna Baig (30) is police officer in country’s capital Islamabad and has been doing stand-up for past three years. Baig occupies two male-dominated fields, police and comedy and uses comedy to elucidate stereotypes and sexism inherent in police force and society as whole. Many women don’t pursue it as profession, as there is not enough scope for it, but I hope in future, this will change,” said Saleem.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 08 2022

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