| Mahpara Safdar | |
| Birth Name: | Mahpara Zaidi |
| Birth Date: | 15 November 1954 |
| Birth Place: | Lahore, Pakistan |
| Nationality: | Pakistani |
| Education: |
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| Years Active: | 1975–present |
| Television: | Pakistan Television |
| Father: | Syed Hassan Abbas Zaidi |
Mahpara Safdar (born 15 November 1954) is a Pakistani journalist, column writer, and former newscaster at PTV, Radio Pakistan, and BBC Urdu.
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.[1] [2]
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.[3] [4] [5]
Safdar has also been working as the editor for current affairs in the Aalami Akhbar since November 2006.[6]
In August 1979, Safdar married poet and radio producer Safdar Hamadani.[7]
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 – 1990 | Urdu Khabrein | Newscaster | Radio Pakistan | [8] |
| 1975 – 1990 | PTV Khabarnama | Newscaster | Pakistan Television | [9] |
| 1990 – 2014 | Sairbeen | News presenter | BBC Urdu | [10] |
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Nigar Award | Best Newscaster | [13] | ||
| 1984 | PTV Award | Best Newscaster |