Manmeet Kaur scripted history last week when she signed on to become a news anchor in a privately-owned television channel in Pakistan. The 24-year-old, who gained employment with ‘Hum News’ on 19 May, is now the first Sikh woman to become a news reporter in Pakistan, Daily Pakistan reported.
As per the report, Kaur holds a Masters degree in social sciences from the Jinnah College for Women.
While talking to Pakistani media in Lahore, Kaur said she hadn’t always planned to enter the field. “In our country, most of the Sikh girls prefer to sit at homes after completing their formal education,” Kaur told Daily Pakistan. As per the report, Kaur will cover stories pertaining to human rights, minorities, local communities and non-governmental organisations.
The literacy rates among Sikhs in the country are dismal, Kaur told The Times of India, adding that as a journalist, she hoped to work to improve these rates. She also told the daily that she hoped to inspire other women in her community. “Everyone should know that women are equally talented as men and my present status will encourage several other community women,” she told the daily.
Kaur, who has four siblings, also told the daily that she hopes to visit Amritsar in India to cover news soon.
(With inputs from Daily Pakistan and The Times of India.)
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