By Shmoun Maqsood

Shabana, 26, has been used as a case study by the Equal Opportunities Commission for the report, "Moving on up? Ethnic minority women and work".
The report, put together following a survey of employers, will highlight the work opportunities for Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Black Caribbean women, their skills, ambitions and the barriers they face. It will also include recommendations for Government, public institutions, employers and trade unions.
Shabana attended the report's launch at the Palace of Westminister, where she discussed her positive experiences working at the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and how it embraces diversity to such an extent that a shalwar kameez headscarf was introduced as part of her uniform.
Stephen Hesford MP and female Muslim comic Shazia Mirza also attended the event.
Shabana, who is based at Bradford Fire Station, was the first Asian woman to work in community fire safety outreach for the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the first to wear a shalwar kameez headscarf as part of her uniform when she started in 2004.
Her job now entails doing free home fire safety checks, carrying out fire safety talks to community groups and she is also working on creating a religious awareness course for the fire and rescue service.
She said: "I first joined to work on a regeneration project in the Leeds Road and Barkerend area of Bradford, where the majority of families are Asian. They felt more at ease talking to a female Asian officer and it helped us engage more with the community.
"I was made to feel very welcome when I started with the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. I love the job because it is so different and interesting."
Maria Tonks, equalities and diversity manager for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Equality and diversity are key priorities for us.
"We are committed to employing a workforce which reflects the diverse community we serve and acknowledge that this will be accompanied by a wide variety of different cultures, religions and beliefs.
"We worked with Shabana in designing her uniform to meet her religious needs, while still maintaining our corporate image."

ENDS