Sarah Haider, an aspiring journalist.

Your city:
I live in Karachi.

An insight on your profession:

I am a print journalist working at Pakistan’s largest-circulated English-language daily, The News International, which is part of the Jang Group of Newspapers.

How long have you been in this profession?

It has been four and-a-half-years.

What has been your vision and what do you love most about your job?

I chose journalism because I love the idea of talking to people and telling their stories to the world. It’s not just a profession for me, but a cause that I would love to take a stand for as well as it is a passion! I believe that journalism plays a direct role in creating awareness and helping people build informed public opinions. Due to the poor literacy rate in Pakistan, I find journalism to be a key source of information and education for the masses.

What do you think is your biggest achievement throughout your professional journey?

My biggest achievement so far has been an award-winning story that I wrote on child sexual abuse. The story won the 1st prize in Investigative Media Awards conducted by an international organization working on youth-related issues. Nonetheless, I believe in constant learning and development and I think there is a lot to achieve in the years to come.

What are your current projects and what will you be doing in near future also?

I am currently working on a story related to honor crimes in Pakistan. In future, I will be working on issues related to sexual and reproductive health of women in Pakistan. I want to create awareness, I want t o let the average Pakistani citizen know they have rights too and they have us to take a stand for them.

A word of advice you would like to pass on to women professionals who wish to pursue same career as you?

As a female, there would be a lot of hindrances that you would face in the field of journalism, but then again there is a great deal of respect too. I love this one thing about Pakistan, the special treatment they would give to a lady here. For instance, if you are a reporter, then going and reporting from vulnerable areas would be risky and undesirable and people would often try to hold you back, all for your own good, but I am not afraid. And I believe if you are passionate about journalism, don’t let your gender become an impediment. Embrace this profession and do your work with dedication and honesty –just like your male counterparts, and you will touch the sky one day.