Mahpara Safdar
{{Short description|Pakistani journalist and former newscaster}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mahpara Safdar
| image = Mahpara Safdar.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Mahpara Safdar
| native_name = {{Nq| مہ پارہ صفدر}}
| birth_name = Mahpara Zaidi
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|11|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lahore, Pakistan
| nationality = Pakistani
| education =
- University of the Punjab (MA in English)
- University of London (MA in women's studies)
| occupation = {{Hlist|Journalist|column writer|former newscaster}}
| years_active = 1975–present
| television = Pakistan Television
| spouse = {{marriage|Safdar Hamdani|1979}}
| father = Syed Hassan Abbas Zaidi
| awards = {{Plainlist|
- PTV Award (1984)
- Nigar Award (1983)
}}
}}
Mahpara Safdar (born 15 November 1954) is a Pakistani journalist, column writer, and former newscaster at PTV, Radio Pakistan, and BBC Urdu.
Early life and education
Safdar was born on 15 November 1954, in Lahore. Safdar's father, Syed Hassan Abbas Zaidi, was a poet and was associated with the education department. Safdar was the fourth of six sisters. She came to Sargodha with her parents as a child and received her primary, high school, and college education from Sargodha. She earned her master's degree in English from the University of the Punjab, Lahore. Meanwhile, she also participated in university programs on Radio Pakistan. Later in her career, she did MA in women's studies from the University of London.{{cite web |title=معروف نیوز کاسٹر مہ پارہ صفدر65برس کی ہو گئیں جانتے ہیں انہوں نے اپنے کیرئیر کا آغاز کہاں سے کیا؟ |url=https://javedch.com/pakistan/2019/11/14/636908 |website=javedch.com |access-date=16 December 2022}}{{cite news |title=معروف نیوز کاسٹر مہ پارہ صفدر65برس کی ہو گئیں |url=https://www.urdupoint.com/daily/livenews/2019-11-14/news-2139043.html |work=UrduPoint |date=14 November 2019|language=ur}}
Career
Safdar joined Pakistan Television Lahore as a newscaster in 1975. She remained associated with PTV till 1990. In January 1990, she went abroad with her family and joined BBC Urdu Service in London, where she worked as a newscaster till 2014. She did several broadcasting courses at the BBC.
According to a Gallup survey conducted in 1986, she was the most popular female PTV newscaster.{{cite web |title=Popular PTV newscasters: Khalid Hameed and Mahpara Safdar are the most popular newscasters |url=https://gallup.com.pk/bb_old_site/pollsshow.php?id=1986-12-13 |website=Gallup Pakistan |access-date=25 December 2022}}{{cite web |title=Year 1986 |url=https://gallup.com.pk/bb_old_site/GallupInPress86.php |website=Gallup Pakistan |access-date=25 December 2022}}{{cite web |title=khalid hameed and mahpara safdafr are most ... - Gallup Pakistan |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/21042868/khalid-hameed-and-mahpara-safdafr-are-most-gallup-pakistan |website=Yumpu |access-date=25 December 2022}}
Safdar has also been working as the editor for current affairs in the Aalami Akhbar since November 2006.{{cite news |title=عالمی اخبار کے ہم سفر |url=https://aalmiakhbar.com/archives/3716 |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=Aalami Akhbar}}
Personal life
In August 1979, Safdar married poet and radio producer Safdar Hamadani.{{cite news |title=’تیسری شادی کب ہوگی۔۔۔‘ |url=https://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan/2009/09/090915_mah_tv_seven |work=BBC Urdu |date=23 December 2009}}
News presentations
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"|Year ! scope="col"|Title ! scope="col"|Role ! scope="col"|Network ! scope="col"|Ref. |
| 1975 – 1990
| Urdu Khabrein | Newscaster |
| 1975 – 1990
| PTV Khabarnama | Newscaster |
| 1990 – 2014
| Sairbeen | News presenter | BBC Urdu |
Books
- Mera Zamana Meri Kahani (autobiography),{{cite web |last1=Kalasra |first1=Rauf |title=میرا زمانہ میری کہانی |url=https://qindeelonline.com/mera-zamana-meri-kahani-rauf-kalasra/ |website=Qindeel |access-date=16 December 2022 |language=ur}}{{cite news |last1=Qureshi |first1=Saadia |title=میرا زمانہ میری کہانی |url=https://www.roznama92news.com/%D9%85%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%81-%DB%8C-%DB%81%D8%A7 |work=Daily 92 News |date=23 December 2022}} published by Book Corner, Jehlam, in 2022, {{ISBN|978-969-662-470-7}}
Awards and recognition
| class="wikitable" | ||||
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Nigar Award | Best Newscaster | {{Won}} | {{cite journal |title=نگار ایوارڈز برائے سال 1983 |journal= Nigar Weekly |date=2000 |volume=Golden Jubilee Number |page=295 |language=ur}} |
| 1984 | PTV Award | Best Newscaster | {{Won}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Instagram|mahpara.safdar}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Safdar, Mahpara}}
Category:Pakistani women journalists
Category:Pakistani television newsreaders and news presenters
Category:Journalists from Lahore