A group of women have opened an all-female restaurant for the first time in Mazar-e-Sharif City in Balkh province. 

Zahra Parsa, the owner of the restaurant, said she has provided employment opportunity for nine women.

Parsa said she has graduated from the Faculty of Literature and that she has worked in a private company.

“We see that there are many restaurants for families in Mazar-e-Sharif City, but there is no restaurant where women will feel safe; therefore, I decided to establish this restaurant with the help of my friends,” she told TOLOnews. 

The women who work in the restaurant said they have at least 20 customers every day since they started the business two weeks ago. 

“Our restaurant has opened newly. The number of our customers is growing every day,” said Shakela, a staff in the restaurant. 

Some residents of Balk said they found the restaurant a safe place for women. 

“We feel as if we are as safe as at home when we visited this restaurant,” said Mubina, a resident of Balkh. 

“Women need these places in order to have food in a safe and free place where we can stay happy and enjoy dinner or lunch with our friends,” said Farzana, a resident of Balkh. 

Working in the community for women has its own headache. Common traditions in society and security threats are the issues that have always been the hindrance ahead of women.

The owner of the restaurant meanwhile said she has plans to open a library at the restaurant in order to help women read their favorite books.