When we speak about Women’s Empowerment, we look towards doers and change-makers, and a name that immediately comes to mind is Dr. Huma Baqai. Educationalist, Media Journalist, Corporate Trainer, Columnist, Anchorperson, academic leader, a mom, and a grandmother, she is a well-known personality. On speaking to her one realizes her knowledge is immense, from current affairs, politics, International affairs, economics and social sciences, she tends to have an opinion on all. Here, Dr. Baqai gives us a candid insight into her life as well thoughts on women’s empowerment, ideals, and progress for Pakistan.

Could you tell us a little about your journey?

Who I am today was never planned. In all honesty, I never really worked towards it, but I just worked very hard, and it happened. I got married at a young age, by choice. My education was cut short due to an ugly incident at Karachi University, which bordered on harassment. I resumed studies after marriage and a career after two children. My PhD was because I met some very nice people, who urged me to move on. The rest is history. My joining IBA after ten years at KU was almost like a turning point. There were people there such as Dr. Ishrat Husain and several others who were always there to guide and mentor me. I am also grateful to those who were not nice to me. They, in reality, got me going forward. It was not easy, but today it is worth a lot.

Getting into it All

Media happened where I was sitting in an audience on PTV show and I got noticed for asking a question. The next day I got a call to do a show on PTV. I made a lot of blunders back then! However, I kept doing them and more and more come my way. I always did hard core current affairs and foreign policy shows.

I was usually the only female there. I worked for PTV for ten plus years. My shows included Tajziyah Huma Baqai k sath, and between the lines with Huma Baqai on PTV News, and Beyond Boundaries on PTV world. Prior to that, I was with News one when it was launched. I have also worked for channel 24 for two years. I freelance now, enjoy doing Web TV far more than our traditional media.

The Media Today
The complexion of our traditional media has changed. It used to cultivate people who had a command over the subject and insights. Viewers also had an appetite for intellectual discussions. Media today is too commercialized
and politicized. The space for people like me has shrunk. With all due respect, it is completely debunked. There are no real insights, the game is all about ratings and breaking news. An intellectual discussion needs time to
build up. Some of the anchors have no clue what they are talking about.

On Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Oh yes, I have broken both the pink ceiling and the glass ceiling! When I started doing media, people said I got this because I was pretty. That was a backhand compliment. It was a way of trying to tell me that I did not have the intelligence, rather I got it because of my looks. I realized to get past it I would have to just work harder. Then I started doing hard core shows foreign policy shows and I know this changed peoples, perceptions of me. Even today a lot of times I am the only woman in the room or on a panel. I wish there were more. The work environment, even today in Pakistan allows women to have a job but does everything to prevent them from having careers. This
starts from the home, the way a girl child is brought up. She internalizes second guessing herself and being ambitious a kin to a sin. We teach our girls to be number two both at home and at work. Those who defy are neither liked, nor appreciated. It is changing, but slowly.

Challenges in the Field
Are many…Women must work twice as hard to make a place for themselves and are usually paid and appreciated less. A lot of women still silently put up with harassment and bullying at workplaces. I think that is how the work culture is set up. Men will casually pass comments and think it is nothing. They will do body shaming and character assassinations at the drop of a hat and get away with it. Maturity comes with age, and in the beginning I also
tolerated a lot. However, as I grew, I chose not to and if l felt anything inappropriate, I would now give the rejoinder publicly, so not let it be missed. And I make sure I help younger women. We must fix each other’s crowns.

Mobility for Women
We need systems and other basic requirements to mobilize women and enable them to locate work wherever they can economically find success. Simple interventions by the state can go a long way. We still do not have harassment
and abuse free homes, roads, colleges, universities and work environment for women.

The term Women’s Empowerment
Women are empowered in many ways. However, real empowerment is economic empowerment. Moreover, the main concern is not women working, we are already working. We need them on decision making tables and in the
corridors of power. In empowering women, we must have women in governance for gender sensitive paradigms.

Have you ever considered Politics?

I don’t think politics is a bad step. I am doing my bit. I think I am an influencer. I mold minds every day and I work with the youth. For now, that is good enough.

Mera Pakistan
Mera Pakistan is not fully mine yet. Not unless women are given recognition, protection, due respect, and equal rights. To me, the concept of Mera Pakistan is a place which is not classified as one of the most dangerous countries
in the world for women, where the girl child is not out of school, not malnourished and the laws to protect her are not openly resisted. The resistance that comes from Islamists, patriarchs and coward politicians who use Islam
selectively to carry on with the toxic status quo.