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Sultana Siddiqui
Sultana Siddiqui also known as Sultana Apa (Sindhi: سلطانا آپي) is a Pakistani media mogul, television director, and producer who is the founder of Hum Network Limited.[1][2] Siddiqui is an active director of Hum Network Limited and the president of Hum Network Limited. By virtue of that she became the first woman in Pakistan to establish a TV station was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz for the same in 2021 by the President of Pakistan.[3][4] Early lifeSultana was born in Hyderabad, Sindh, into a Sindhi qazis (Muslim judges) family domiciled therein, Sultana being the seventh of ten children.[5] She received her early education from government schools in Hyderabad.[6] She aimed to do her Master's in comparative religion but stopped due to her marriage in 1966, which would end in a divorce, and she would return to her family home with her three sons.[5] Currently, she resides in North Nazimabad Town in Karachi.[5] Career1970s-1980s: Early work as actress and director-producerSultana started her career from PTV as a producer in Karachi in 1974. Following a brief acting career, she concentrated on direction and production in both Sindhi and Urdu, her first Urdu-language production being Rung Barung (1981), a musical show for kids.[5] 1990s: Mainstream successSultana reached popular success with Marvi (1993) and since then has directed or produced many appreciated television serials.[5] Siddiqui has also produced children's television, musical performances, television films, serials and documentaries. 2000s-now: Hum Network and return to directionIn 2004 she founded Eye Television Network, now known as "Hum Network Limited" under which her own four cable channels are working, including "Hum TV".[7] Under her direction Hum TV has received Pakistan's Lux Style Awards four years in a row.[3] She is the only woman in Asia who started or owned a TV channel.[8] As a director she remained inactive ten years before her latest drama serial Zindagi Gulzar Hai (2012-2013),[9] a critically acclaimed[10] serial that has been praised for "breaking the ice across the borders of Pakistan and India in current times"[11] featuring Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed. Awards and recognitionSultana has won numerous awards, including the Best Producer of a Drama Serial, Best Producer of a Music Production, the Hazrat Khadijat ul Kubra Award, Women of Vision Award, Nigar Award, the Gold Medal Award, Sindh Graduates Association Award, and the Pride of Performance Award from the Government of Pakistan. Her work is well known for its attention to social issues and its focus on female empowerment. Siddiqui has represented Pakistan in numerous international workshops and seminars.[12] Other workPublic speakingAs a public speaker, Sultana has spoken on many local and international platforms, including the 2013 US Islamic World Forum[3] held in Doha, Qatar and the 2014 Women Leadership Forum held in Silicon Valley, California.[13] Karachi Film SocietySiddiqui founded the Karachi Film Society (KFS) in 2017. The nonprofit society hosts seminars, workshops, and festivals to promote film and drive the Pakistani film industry in new and creative ways. KFS is also the parent body of the Pakistan International Film Festival (PIFF).[14] FashionIn 2018 Sultana Siddiqui collaborated with Zac Chaudhri from the University of The Arts London to produce the first set of books on Pakistani Fashion to be held in a major western Arts university library. The books are titled Fashion Uncovered and are an introduction to Pakistani Fashion.[15] Selected television serials
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