On June 16, at a conference convened in Islamabad, women journalists from across Pakistan called for equal representation and more leadership roles within the media sector. The event, held in collaboration with the Women Media Center Pakistan and the National Endowment for Democracy, focused on addressing gender disparities, enhancing workplace conditions, and expanding career opportunities for women in journalism.

The conference spotlighted the need for greater female participation in press clubs and journalist unions, and the ongoing challenges faced in newsrooms and during field reporting.

Fauzia Shaheen, a senior journalist and founder of the Women Media Center, highlighted the persistent gender gap despite the growth of Pakistan’s media industry. She cited the Global Media Monitoring Project 2025, which shows a stark absence of women in key decision-making roles and only four percent of field assignments held by women reporters.

Nuzhat Shireen, former chairperson of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, recalled the historical contributions of women journalists, particularly during the restrictive regime of General Zia-ul-Haq. She praised the resilience and activism of women journalists alongside their male colleagues during that era.

The conference also explored internal barriers to women’s advancement in media, former National Press Club secretary Fauzia Shahid commented on self-limiting attitudes that can curtail women’s professional growth. Farhat, another senior journalist, emphasised the importance of women supporting each other to navigate and ascend the professional ladder in media organisations.

Several practical suggestions emerged from the discussions, including the call for a formal policy framework to specifically address the concerns and demands of women journalists within unions and media bodies, which came from senior analyst Zafarullah Khan