MahaPara, a young journalist and former student at the University of Gujrat, shared her journey from Gujrat to Islamabad, where she now covers parliamentary news for Bol News. Her journey from a conservative city to the nation’s capital is a story of resilience and determination. “I always wanted to be a journalist, but growing up in Gujrat, it felt like an impossible dream,” MahaPara shared.
“My parents wanted me to become a doctor. They believed it was a stable and respectable career for women,” she said. Convincing them wasn’t easy, but MahaPara’s determination paid off. “My father, an educated man, eventually became my biggest supporter.Despite her family’s eventual support, the challenges of working in Gujrat were immense. Safety concerns, societal judgment, and limited opportunities for women in journalism made it difficult to grow professionally. “Many of my friends, who started out passionate about journalism, had to quit because of the lack of opportunities or overwhelming societal pressure,” MahaPara revealed.
MahaPara’s decision to move to Islamabad was a turning point. “I knew that if I stayed in Gujrat, my career would stagnate. Islamabad offered better opportunities and slightly more acceptance for women in journalism,” she said. However, the move wasn’t without its challenges.
“Relocating alone as a woman raised a lot of eyebrows. Extended family questioned my decision, and some friends doubted I could succeed in such a competitive field,” she shared. Despite the resistance, MahaPara was determined to pursue her dream. “With my father’s moral and financial support, I took the leap,” she said.
In Islamabad, MahaPara found opportunities to work on significant beats, including parliamentary reporting. “It felt empowering to finally cover stories that matter. But at the same time, I realized how rare it was for women to break into this space,” she said.
MahaPara is currently the only woman in her organization covering parliamentary news. This, she revealed, reflects a broader trend across the media industry. “In most organizations, female journalists are rarely assigned to political or crime beats. These are seen as too demanding or inappropriate for women,” she explained.
Instead, women are often given “soft” beats like health, education, or lifestyle. “It’s frustrating because it reinforces the stereotype that women can’t handle tough reporting,” she added. MahaPara emphasized that this mindset is one of the biggest barriers to gender equality in journalism.
Despite the obstacles, MahaPara remains optimistic. “I’ve worked hard to prove that women are just as capable of handling complex and demanding roles in media,” she said.
Around 70 out of 120 annual enrollees in the Media and Communication Sciences program are women, only a small fraction continue into media professions
Through her work, MahaPara hopes to inspire other women from smaller cities to pursue their dreams. “If my story can encourage even one woman to break through these barriers, it will all be worth it,” she said with a smile.
According to Ruksana Riaz, Associate Professor at the University of Gujrat’s Media Department, women face significant barriers in pursuing careers in media. She revealed that while around 70 out of 120 annual enrollees in the Media and Communication Sciences program are women, only a small fraction continue into media professions.
“Based on our observations and informal feedback, only about 5% of these women actively pursue media careers after graduation,” she said. Ruksana Riaz explained that the department tracks student progression through alumni networks and academic records. “We don’t have an official record of everyone’s career paths, but from staying in touch with graduates and monitoring their work, it’s clear that very few women continue in the field,” she added.
Ruksana Riaz pointed to societal norms and family expectations as primary reasons for this trend. “Most of these women face pressures to prioritize marriage and family over careers. Economic challenges, like the lack of media jobs in smaller cities, also play a big role,” she explained.
Ruksana Riaz believes that “If we want more women to succeed in journalism, we need to create an environment where they feel supported, both socially and professionally”.
Syed Naveed Shah, a senior journalist with Dunya News and the President of the Gujrat Press Club, confirmed a glaring fact: since the club’s inception in 1982, no women have registered as members. “It’s not because women aren’t interested,” he explained. “The challenges they face—cultural restrictions, safety concerns, and lack of support—are simply overwhelming.”
Former Press Club President Abdul Sattar shared that this imbalance has deep cultural roots. “Even after the University of Gujrat introduced its media department in 2008, most women couldn’t stay in the field,” he said. “The environment just doesn’t support them—there’s little room for growth, and the cultural pressures are too heavy.”
He noted that efforts have been made to address these issues, such as training workshops organized by the University of Gujrat. “These workshops aimed to encourage more women to participate in journalism and to provide them with essential skills. However, the impact has been limited because the workshops aren’t regular, and female participation remains low.”
Anwar Sheikh, a senior journalist with Jazba News and former General Secretary of the Gujrat Press Club, revealed a deeper issue behind the lack of female representation in the press club. “Several women have applied for membership, but the leadership has never been welcoming. The process is riddled with favoritism and political dynamics.” he said.
He explained that the club’s membership policies are highly restrictive. “Membership opportunities open up after decades, and even then, a certain group within the club dominates the decision-making. They don’t want to let women or young journalists in. It’s a power game,” he added.
This exclusivity affects not just women but many active journalists in the region. “Even some experienced journalists who have been working in the field for years haven’t been granted membership,” Sheikh noted.
According to Sheikh, these barriers are a significant setback for journalism in Gujrat. “If we truly want to see diversity and fresh perspectives in the media, the press club needs to change. Women and young journalists deserve a place here, just like everyone else,” he said.
Afshan Ahmad, a radio journalist and program head from Gujrat shared the struggles of recruiting women for on-camera roles in the city. She recalled a recent incident where two women were selected as news anchors but backed out on their first day. “Their families were worried about their safety and reputation. They just didn’t have the support they needed to move forward,” she explained.
The inclusion of women journalists can bring a more balanced and nuanced perspective to political reporting
Afshan pointed out how cultural norms discourage women from public-facing roles. “In most middle-class households in Gujrat, veil culture is deeply ingrained. It’s seen as inappropriate for women to appear on camera or take up visible roles in media,” she said.
Another major challenge Afshan highlighted is the lack of safe transportation for women in Gujrat. “There’s no proper transport system here,” she explained. “If you can’t afford a private rickshaw, you have to rely on shared autos and wagons. These are often late, overcrowded, and dominated by male passengers who harass and tease women.”
The societal attitude toward women facing harassment only makes things worse. “If something happens, like harassment, society blames the woman instead of supporting her,”.
She also emphasized the absence of support systems for women journalists in Gujrat. “There are no organizations or resources here to protect women’s rights and safety in journalism. Without such support, we’re left to deal with these issues on our own, which makes it even harder to build lasting careers in media,” she concluded.
Harassment, both online and offline, remains a significant challenge for female journalists in Gujrat. Eisha Mudassir, a media studies graduate from the University of Gujrat in 2023, shared her journey and struggles in the media industry. Initially driven by her passion for journalism, she worked briefly with a local media organization in 2023 before transitioning to academia and starting her MPhil in 2024.
“Media isn’t a very safe space for women,” Eisha admitted. “I don’t regret studying media—it gave me confidence and taught me a lot about the world. But I also understand why so many women like me decide not to stay in the field. It’s hard to keep fighting when you don’t feel welcomed or supported.”
Eisha recalled moments of discomfort during her time in the media industry. “There were instances when male colleagues made inappropriate comments about my appearance or questioned whether I was capable of handling the work,” she shared.
One of her most unsettling experiences occurred while covering a local political event. “I felt completely unsafe,” she said. “There were no professional boundaries, and when I raised concerns, the senior staff just brushed them off like they weren’t important.”
Ruksana Riaz, Associate Professor at the University of Gujrat, emphasized that “awareness and education on digital security are vital, especially for women aspiring to work in media”. “The media landscape in Gujrat can only improve if we build an environment where women feel safe, supported, and empowered to speak their truths. This requires not just legal and structural changes but also a cultural shift That values women’s contributions to the media,” she said.
Adding her perspective, Wazir-ul-Nisa, a senior female political figure in Gujrat, highlighted the need for greater inclusion of women in journalism. “The ratio of female politicians is already very low, and the absence of women journalists in the field means fewer voices to amplify our struggles and successes,” she explained.
When asked why local women political leaders don’t actively support women journalists, Wazir-ul-Nisa acknowledged that systemic barriers play a role. “It’s not a lack of willingness; it’s the cultural and societal constraints that hold us back,” she said. “We face the same challenges—harassment, limited mobility, and societal judgment. But I firmly believe that the inclusion of women journalists can bring a more balanced and nuanced perspective to political reporting.”
Despite the challenges, she remains optimistic. “I want to see more women journalists working in the field, covering not just soft beats but the critical issues that shape our society,” she said. “Change is slow, but I’m hopeful. With more awareness and support, I believe we’ll see things improving in the near future.”