Our congratulations to HUM TV President Sultana Siddiqui for receiving an honorary degree in Mass Communication from Greenwich University in Karachi.
As a key player in Pakistan’s media for over four decades, Sultana Siddiqui received the doctorate in recognition of her revolutionary approach to the country’s media industry. This includes spurring and advocating mass awareness of social issues and in particular, her role in empowering women within film and television worldwide.
Upon receiving the doctorate, Sultana urged graduating students to do their upmost to use their education to “aim high, stay determined and… bring a positive change to society”.
With extensive experience as both a producer and director, Siddiqui established HUM TV in 2005. Under her guidance the network has achieved great acclaim, spawning three successful satellite channels, a viewership in over 60 countries and received numerous awards for its diverse content.
A particular focus of Siddiqui’s work has been the role and position of women in society, working tirelessly to make the problems faced by women a central theme of the HUM Network’s media output. She has also been hugely supportive of gender focussed NGO’s and the promotion of female education in rural areas.
The Public Media Alliance stands firm on the need to progress towards the equal representation of women within the media workplace and media content worldwide. Sultana Siddiqui’s award is therefore hugely encouraging regarding the recognition of women within Pakistan’s media industry.
The award follows the recognition of our own President and General Manager of International Relations at HUM TV, Moneeza Hashmi, who was awarded the Japan Prize in October 2015 for outstanding achievements in educational media.
It is hoped that these accolades for prominent women in media will help to fuel the momentum of improving roles and the representation of women in both Pakistan and the wider region’s media landscape.
HUM TV is a longstanding member of the Public Media Alliance.