It's quite clear that he is talking about Niqab/Burqa and face covering (not "head covering").
Barely twenty years ago, abaya was a word unfamiliar to speakers of Urdu and never to be seen. This shapeless gown, usually black, is of Arab origin. But today, countless shops in every city of Pakistan specialize in abayas, hijabs, and burqas. Some are at the high-end, frequented by rich housewives and their daughters. Those in burqa sometimes also wear black socks and gloves, covering every inch of the body except for two slits around the eyes. This practice is made still unhealthier by the use of synthetic materials that make it difficult for the skin to breathe or sweat to evaporate. While some women are not allowed to step outside their house, others are veiled even inside their house because of hired male domestic help. Although doctors warn that Vitamin-D deficiency results in these cases, this has made little difference. Once upon a time, the fully veiled student was a rarity on Pakistani university and college campuses. But in colleges and universities across Pakistan, the female student is increasingly seeking the anonymity of the burqa. And in some parts of the country she seems to outnumber her sisters who still “dare” to show their faces. How does the veil affect habits and attitudes? There does not seem to be a proper comparative study. However, my personal observation is that many veiled female students have largely become silent notetakers, are increasingly timid and less inclined to ask questions or take part in discussions. They lack the confidence expected of a young university student.Mercifully, Pakistani men have not – at least as yet – taken to the tradition Arab dress of thawb, ghutrah, and agal.
