5 Things About Pak’s First Woman Sikh Reporter You Didn’t Know

Pakistan’s first woman Sikh anchor talks about women, her religion and her country.

Manmeet Kaur becomes Pakistan’s first woman Sikh reporter. 

(Photo: Manmeet Kaur) 

(Video Editor: Puneet Bhatia)

Manmeet Kaur, 24, scripted history when she became the first Sikh woman in Pakistan to become a TV reporter with a privately run channel, Hum News.

The Peshawar girl is a postgraduate in Social Sciences from Jinnah College for Women.

When I first started pursuing my dream, my family dissuaded me. They were unsure of sending me to an uncharted territory. No one in my family was a part of the media, and for a woman to take that leap was unheard of. 

Manmeet Kaur

When Kaur’s uncle got to know about his family’s apprehensions, he counselled them and encouraged Kaur to make the most of her education.

My uncle is a social media aficionado and is an advocate of women’s empowerment. He found my family’s doubts thoroughly regressive and began education my parents. 

Manmeet Kaur

The Sikh community in Pakistan battles low literacy rates. Women from the community are further marginalised. So, the idea of them stepping out for employment is frowned upon.

Despite the naysayers, Kaur picked up the job and made waves internationally.

Being a journalist, Kaur wants to show Pakistani women and the community the path towards a gender-neutral society. In a short span of time, she became a role model for aspiring girls in her community.

She aims to not only to improve the literacy rate among Pakistani Sikhs, but also help women get an equal status in society.

Everyone should know that women are equally talented as men and my present status will encourage several other community women

Manmeet Kaur

Before joining as Pakistan’s first Sikh news reporter for a TV channel, Kaur also worked as an administrator in a computer academy for three years.

As a news reporter, Kaur covers religious, political and cultural beats. She wishes to travel to Amritsar as a journalist.