islamkot pakistan pakistan bet cheap coal thar desert resolve energy crisis select group women eye road poverty snap truck-driving job go men work see life-changing dusty southern region border india sand dun cover estimate coal reserve 175 billion tonnes yellow dumper truck swarm like be around pakistan large open-pit mine impose 60-tonne truck initially daunt gulaban 25 housewife mother three thar hindu community inside staunchly conservative mainly-muslim nation 208 million people begin bite nervous normal drive dumper say gulaban clothe pink saree traditional cloth wear hindu women across south asia gulaban hop job help empower women face grim employment prospect among 30 women train truck drivers sindh engro coal mine company secmc pakistani firm dig low-grade coal roll thar sand dun gulaban steal march fellow trainees woman know drive car train truck driver inspiration fellow students gulaban drive dump truck need learn drive quickly like say ramu 29 mother six stand beside 40-tonne truck recently energy experts uncertain pakistan abundant poor-quality coal could use fire power plant view begin change new technology chinese investment part china-pakistan economic corridor cpec key branch beijing belt road initiative connect asia europe africa coal along hydro liquefy natural gas heart pakistan energy plan secmc 125 dump truck ferry earth pit mine estimate need 300-400 truck burrow deep enough reach coal drivers earn 40,000 rupees 380 month women aspire job overcome cultural barriers society women restrict mainly work field cook clean family week saudi arabia close ally pakistan women grant permission drive first time ever end ban support conservative clerics see right activists emblem suppression gulaban husband harjilal recall people thar would taunt illiterate wife drive small car sit passenger seat wife drive people use laugh say harjilal like people community one name gulaban seek throw stereotype window focus opportunities ahead see female trainees get pay life change gulaban add hope ... good future pakistan 's coal rush women drivers break cultural barriers