Lahore: A multi-stakeholder consultation on gender equality and equity in Pakistan’s media industry was held on Friday at Punjab University, where journalists and media professionals shared experiences and highlighted persistent challenges faced by women in newsrooms.
Organised by the Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA) with support from the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), and in collaboration with the Department of Digital Media, University of the Punjab, the event marked the first in a series of three national consultations aimed at strengthening gender-responsive policies in media organisations.
M. Aftab Alam, Executive Director of IRADA, said the session was designed to identify systemic barriers hindering gender equality and to gather actionable recommendations. “The purpose of the session was to identify issues and challenges in ensuring gender equality in Pakistan’s media industry and collate suggestions to enable a working environment for women journalists. This will feed into the development of a model policy document for media houses and media institutions,” he noted.
During the discussion, participants underscored that women journalists continue to encounter workplace harassment, limited mobility, and unequal professional opportunities. Several speakers pointed out that women are often excluded from certain beats—such as crime reporting—or sidelined from influential and high-visibility roles.
“We are not given the importance we deserve. We still don’t have the acceptability needed for us to thrive and take senior roles,” said senior journalist Shiba Gill, stressing the persistent biases that restrict women’s advancement in the field.
Participants also emphasised the lack of flexible working arrangements within media organisations, a factor that they said hampers women journalists’ career progression and overall participation.
The upcoming consultations in other regions are expected to further expand the evidence base for a comprehensive model gender policy aimed at fostering safer, more inclusive, and equitable media workplaces across Pakistan.