Marvia Malik just became Pakistan’s first news anchor. | Photo: Twitter
Pakistan’s first trans news anchor delivered her first broadcast over the weekend.
Marvia Malik – not Maavia as some outlets have reported – went to air on the Lahore based, Kohenoor News, on Saturday 24 March.
#Pakistan first transgender news caster on screen now – Maavia Malik pic.twitter.com/uXJipyrEfL
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) March 23, 2018
Kohenoor News relaunched its service on Friday (23 March) and became the first news outlet to hire a trans news anchor.
Malik delivered the news shortly after making history on the catwalk as a model Pakistan Fashion Design Council fashion week in Lahore.
Pakistan’s first transgender newscaster Maavia Malik has already walked the ramp for the PFDC Sunsilk fashion week that just passed pic.twitter.com/2Ue2mernx4
— Tabeen (@Tabeen6) March 24, 2018
Marvia has lots of career options but whatever she chooses, she wants to make sure she is making a positive difference in the lives of trans people.
‘I have several modelling offers that I’m considering, but I want to do something for my community that I feel is way behind,’ Malik told Images.
‘So I want to strengthen my people. Everywhere we go, a transgender person is looked down upon.
‘But there’s nothing we can’t do; we’re educated, have degrees, but no opportunities, no encouragement. This is what I want to change.’
While Trump bans most transgender from serving in military, a Pakistani news channel, Kohinoor TV, has launched Maavia Malik Queen as the first ever #trangender news anchor in Pakistan!
More power to marginalized segments! #EqualRightsForAll pic.twitter.com/hq6uPtwlxI
— Kapil Dev (@kdsindhi) March 24, 2018
Already opening doors
Malik went through the intense recruitment process for the news anchor position. But she made sure to use her platform to bring in other trans people to the network.
Kohenoor News CEO, Junaid Mahmood Ansari, confirmed they hired a trans person to work at the copy editing desk.
‘I want to use this platform to work for people’s problems and society at large. There’s a lot much more to this campaign than the hiring of transgenders,’ Ansari said.
‘We want to take this forward and set an example. And we hope other channels and organisations follow suit not just for ratings, but genuinely accept and help this community and other underprivileged sections of society.’
Pakistan’s trans community
Pakistan’s relationship with its trans community is complicated.
While historically trans people were very accepted in society, they face a lot of violence and discrimination.
But a revised Transgender Bill protecting their rights is likely to become law in the coming weeks.
