Uks Consultations
- Consultations
Project – Dialogue for Change (DfC)
Participants – 50+

This was the first panel discussion in the series of DfC, featuring the team of the then recently concluded Hum TV drama serial “Dar Si Jati Hai Sila” which centered round the story of Sila who is sexually abused by a family member, Joee Mama. Dialogue for Change initiative aims to turn passive viewers and audiences into active and proactive ones, and to determine as to what extent news and entertainment content influences the viewers. Ms. Ahmar requested the panellists to talk about their experience of shooting the drama on a topic considered taboo in a Pakistani society. Bee Gul, writer of the play, shared that she was told that her writing was too bold for Pakistani society. She said her writings often addressed topics considered taboo, and many a times her projects almost got her killed! Yumna Zaidi (character Sila) said that a lot of girls reached out to her after the drama and that made her realise survivors found strength in Sila’s character. Saman Ansari (character Saadia) shared that people came up to her to express how much they could relate to script because it hit so close to home. Gul also shared that it was surprising for them that their drama got such high ratings. She said the ratings further broke the myth that audience do not like to watch dramas on sensitive topics and that was a big success.
July 2018
Project – Dialogue for Change
Participants – 70+

Though in Pakistan we haven’t seen many women-centric movies with a clear-cut progressive narrative, there is, however one movie that needs not only to be recognized but also applauded; “Motorcycle Girl”. It is in this regard that Uks held a second panel discussion in the series ‘Dialogue for Change” with the cast and crew of this amazing movie. Director and writer, Adnan Sarwar, Sohai Ali Abro who played the lead role and senior actor Shamim Hilali were present. According to Sarwar, the project was a difficult one to sell to financers as most claimed that audiences would not be able to accept the absence of a male lead character, and the movie would not be a commercial success. Sohai lamented that scripts similar to Motorcycle Girl were not being written in the industry. She said “When I first read the script, I was surprised that a man had written it as it was very sensitively written and took into consideration very small details about the life of a woman”. Shamim Hilali recalled the good old days of Pakistani television which were not driven by the ratings game so gave some brilliant productions. The aim of Uks in holding such dialogues is to turn passive viewers and audiences into proactive ones, and ascertain the extent to which news and entertainment content can influence viewers, both male and female. Some very interesting comments came from the very engaged audience.
2018
Project – Gender Equality in Media; Beyond Awareness and Advocacy
Participants – 5

- Daily Pakistan
- Daily Jinnah
- FM Radio Power 99
- Radio Pakistan PBC
- Duniya TV
- PTV
- Aaj TV
The team visited these media houses and briefed them about Uks’ project and tools which were designed to end news sexism. Talking about gender-just media content especially in news about politics, sports and violence, Uks’ team shared media clippings of content Funded by the media house which violated gender-sensitivity ethics. The team also questioned them on their policies for work place harassment, safe working environment for women and better workplace infrastructure e.g. separate washrooms etc. and equal salary and promotion policies for female employees. The representatives assured them that they would try their level best to provide women with better facilities but due to budget constraints and uncooperative staff members, circumstances in media houses are not ideal and require a lot of improvement.
2018
Project – Twenty years of Uks
Participants – 70+

2018
Project – Twenty years of Uks
Participants – 100+

September 2017
Project – Commemorating 70 years of Pakistan
Participants – 50+

25th June, 2016
Project – Gender Just Media Drive
Participants – 35

28th Aug, 2015
Project – Gender Just Media Drive
Participants – 48

4th April 2013
Project – More Women in Media
Participants – 19

June 14, 2013

Project – Empowering Women in Politics through Media
Participants – Media, Civil Society and Women Parliamentarians

Women politicians and leaders shared their experiences of the political arena and commented on media’s role in empowering women in politics.
“I have being involved in politics since childhood. When we do politics for our fathers and brothers it is a source of pride for them; but when we do it for ourselves it is a source of disgrace.” said Ms. Sumaira Khan, a political worker of Pakistan People’s Party.
November – December 2013
Project – More Women in Media
Participants – 160+

details:
Islamabad:
- Abb Tak
- Daily Pakistan
- Express Tribune
- FM 100
- Geo News
- PBC
Peshawar:
- Aaj News
- AVT Khyber
- Express Tribune
- Frontier Post
- PBC Peshawar
Quetta:
- Daily Azadi
- Daily Mashriq
- Daily Dawn
- Baluchistan Times
1st December, 2012
Project – More Women in Media
Participants – 19

- Gender sensitisation of media
- Gender sensitive curriculum in media schools
- Media ratings vs. responsible content
- Advertisements
- Popularity of soaps from other countries
- Negative portrayal of women
- Responsibility of hosts and presenters
- Media practitioners hail from the same society and have same social mindsets
- Media a socio-political reflection
- Ethics – Media’s responsibility
- Gender insensitive language and terminologies
December 2009
Project – More Women in Mainstream Media
Participants – media managers and working journalists

14 March 2009
Media Managers and working journalists were invited to a roundtable to discuss if the main stream media can actually come-up with gender sensitive media content.
2008
Project – Capacity Building of Journalists for Effective Dialogue and Positive
Coverage of Women Issues in Media
Participants – Radio Journalists and Civil Society
A national media conference was held for radio journalists for compilation of a best practices guide to enable radio journalists to effectively report and debate on women’s issues and to enable the media to understand the importance of reporting on human rights and recommendations on best practices. A baseline survey on monitoring of women and human rights programmes on Pakistan’s FM channels was shared with radio producers at this event.
2 April 2007
Project – Training of Indigenous Media in Pakistan on HIV/AIDS reporting
Participants – Media practitioners, Civil Society

July 2005
Funded by PANOS
2003
Project – Formulation of a Gender-Sensitive Code of Ethics
Participants -Media Practioners

Project – Monitoring and Sensitizing the Print Media on Portrayal of Women
Participants – Print Media practitioners

- How effectively has the print media been able to educate people and to elicit the attitudinal changes necessary to facilitate the process of development, especially of women?
- How often does the press try to raise public awareness and generate debate on women’s issues and is this effort part of a deliberate policy
- Has the press helped to create awareness among its readers that women’s rights are human rights?
- What has been the role of the press in trying to eliminate discrimination against women?
- Popularity of soaps from other countries
Five workshops were held in :
- Karachi (May 8, 2002)
- Quetta (June 11, 2001)
- Peshawar (June 19, 2001)
- Islamabad (10 September 2001)
- Lahore, (June 25, 2001).