Women journalists honoured for their contribution in the field

Published March 10, 2023
A group photo of women journalists honoured on the day with guests, speakers and the KPC top brass. — Photo Courtesy KPC
A group photo of women journalists honoured on the day with guests, speakers and the KPC top brass. — Photo Courtesy KPC

KARACHI: The Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Thursday honoured 25 women journalists for their meaningful contribution in various fields of journalism.

The journalist awardees included Malka Afroz Rohila, Asma Ayoub, Sumeha Khalid, Mariam Hassan, Irum Noor, Kaukab Mirza, Bushra Khalid, Rabina Yasmin, Sheher Bano, Uzma Ambreen Qazi, Lubna Khalid, Zakia Batool, Surayya Bano and Noreen Shams.

Speaking on the occasion, senior journalist and academic Shahida Kazi recalled the day in 1963 when she took her first step into the world of journalism by being the first female to get admission in the Department of Mass Communications at the University of Karachi. “After that, I was offered a job in the biggest English newspaper Dawn. After working there for some years, I joined Pakistan Television to then come full circle by teaching journalism at the university from where I learned journalism,” she said.

Sindh Commission on the Status of Women chairperson Nuzhat Shirin said that she also began her career as a journalist.

Senior journalist, and former editor of The News Hummaa Ahmad said that one needs to prove oneself to get anywhere in life. “And if you are a woman, you have to double prove yourself,” she said.

Finally, senior journalist and the author of several books Razia Sultana earned a standing ovation when she said that she only has herself to thank for where she is today. Some women in the hall got teary-eyed listening to how hard she had to struggle.

“So many people in my own family held me back. But I had good bosses to appreciate my work and lend me support. Today, I have developed glaucoma in my eyes. I have had several surgeries, too. But I won’t let it get in the way of my work because the day I stop working will be the day I die,” she said.

Director General of the Press Information Department Karachi Irum Tanveer, social worker Aliya Sarim Burney, Jamaat-i-Islami leader Asma Safeer, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Fiza Zeeshan, sportsperson Mahiya Moin, Radio Pakistan’s Naheed Zamir, KPC president and secretary Saeed Sarbazi and Shoaib Ahmed and governing body member Kulsoom Jahan also spoke.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

What next?
Updated 21 Sep, 2023

What next?

One wonders that if administrative measures were all that were needed to arrest the rupee’s sorry slide, why were they not taken sooner?
Greater representation
21 Sep, 2023

Greater representation

PAKISTAN now stands at a significant juncture, with the names of 11.7m more women added to the voter list, ...
Lost generations
21 Sep, 2023

Lost generations

IF those who wield power in Pakistan think that the nation can progress when tens of millions of its children have...
Sikh activist’s murder
Updated 20 Sep, 2023

Sikh activist’s murder

Perhaps Indians have taken a page out of Mossad’s handbook in organising a hit on an individual they considered a ‘terrorist’.
ECP’s preparations
Updated 20 Sep, 2023

ECP’s preparations

The revision of the delimitation timeline still does not mean elections will be held according to the constitutional schedule.
Futures on hold
20 Sep, 2023

Futures on hold

IT is a sad turn of events when one is caught between choosing to fill their fuel tanks to get to work or paying the...