Initiatives

Projects

HUM Network

On the business side Sultana Siddiqui started off with one of the first private content production houses in Pakistan. Her hard work brought her success and in 2004, she became the first woman in South-East Asia to launch a private entertainment channel. The channel was the first publicly listed media company in Pakistan, a step that is unmatched even today. The 24-hour entertainment channel, HUM TV was followed by the launch of South-East Asia’s first 24-hour food channel HUM Masala. Its third channel Style 360 (now known as HUM Sitaray) followed in 2010 and HUM News, a 24-hour news channel focusing on presenting unbiased news and current affairs was launched in 2019. HUM Network’s latest entrant is HUM Pushto 1 launched in 2020.

Today HUM TV has its viewers in over 30 countries. Its programmes have been dubbed in other languages and its content aired in India via Indian broadcasters. Scores of HUM stars are now making headway internationally proving HUM TV to be a successful ambassador of Pakistan’s soft image as envisaged by Siddiqui. HUM TV fiercely competes with other international broadcasters in UK, USA and Middle East, constantly winning hearts of expatriate viewers belonging to South Asian diaspora in the Hindi/ Urdu content markets.

HUM Awards acts as a shining showcase of Pakistani culture and has won accolades from the government and its citizens wherever it has been held. Be it Dubai, Toronto or Houston, Hum Awards colourful celebration of Pakistan for its expat community have made a positive impact with the local administrations thus, uplifting the Pakistani flag in foreign lands.

HUM TV was launched in January 2004 with a vision to revive the demand for quality content in Pakistan at a time when the audience was hooked to Indian serials. The content mix consists of dramas, soaps, morning shows etc. For the past four years, HUM TV has been the biggest channel in the industry in terms of revenue. Within a short span of time, HUM TV has established itself as the number 1 entertainment channel both locally and internationally – US, Middle East, UK and Europe (regions where there is significant South Asian diaspora).
HUM Sitarey – previously known as Style 360, the channel was launched in 2013 and caters to the demand for both local as well as foreign content. It is positioned as a hybrid channel offering both narrative as well as format-based entertainment shows.
HUM Masala is the first dedicated 24-hour Urdu food channel in Pakistan, and the first food channel to broadcast from Asia. Shortly after the launch in 2006, Masala became a household name, recognised across Pakistan.
HUM News was launched in May 2018 with an aim to differentiate it from the rest of the news channels and to break the present news culture that depicts a state of chaos with constant and unnecessary breaking news and bulletin.
With the moto ‘Agay ki Soch’.  The prime focus of HUM News is not just to highlight the current issues but also suggest solution to the key issues being faced by our youth.
HUM PASHTO is a regional channel that airs Pushto programmes 24 hours a day, along with dubbed Urdu HUM TV dramas and entertainment shows for the Pushtun population of Pakistan.

 

HUM Women Leaders Award (HWLA)

HUM Women Leaders Award (HWLA) aims to recognise and honor the contributions and achievements of iconic women from Pakistan and around the world who are change-makers in their respective fields and a symbol and source of hope, courage, determination and inspiration for women across the globe. The aim of these awards is to encourage young women to think big and break the glass ceiling. The awards ceremony is held every year and televised globally on HUM TV on International Women’s Day. The ceremony is preceded by a panel discussion titled ‘Women as Agents of Social Change’, where prominent women from various backgrounds discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by women.

Pakistan International Film Festival (PIFF)

An offshoot of Karachi Film Society (KFS), Pakistan International Film Festival (PIFF) was inaugurated in March 2018. PIFF is the largest film festival in Pakistan which screens features, short films and documentaries from Pakistan and around the world. Its mission is to create a unique platform which promotes both Pakistani cinema, Pakistani filmmakers, writers and makeup artists by showcasing their films to diverse international audiences. It also provides opportunities for co-productions and to portray Pakistan as an exciting and vibrant country with great cinematic potential. PIFF encourages students from universities and youth to participate in the event held yearly so that they can learn from the experts rich experiences.

PIFF focuses on workshops, lectures, seminars related to acting, film and television productions, direction, writing and other aspects related to the arts. The successful endeavour has encouraged Siddiqui to focus on setting up a film academy that can hone the innate talent of youngsters.

Fakhr-e-Imdad Foundation

Sultana Siddiqui Foundation, a non-profit organization was launched with a vision to educate the underprivileged children, especially girls of rural Sindh. Located in Ranipur, SSF has successfully launched Sultana Siddiqui Institute of Education under its banner with a passion for serving underprivileged communities, which provides the highest quality education to underprivileged children as well as vocational training to women.

Fakhr-e-Imdad foundation was founded by Siddiqui and her family to educate the children of Thar.

Sultana Siddiqui Foundation

Sultana Siddiqui Foundation, a non-profit organization was launched with a vision to educate the underprivileged children, especially girls of rural Sindh. Located in Ranipur, SSF has successfully launched Sultana Siddiqui Institute of Education under its banner with a passion for serving underprivileged communities, which provides the highest quality education to underprivileged children as well as vocational training to women.

Sultana Siddiqui Foundation believes that the education sector is important for the betterment of society. Keeping this in mind, a co-education school in Thar was opened, which provides quality education and many students from this school have now become doctors and engineers and achieved success in their chosen fields. The second school built by the foundation is operational in Ranipur Sindh, along with a number of dispensaries in Sindh that supply free medicines. A future goal for SSF is a media university which is in the pipeline, since the need for media education is a dream project for Siddiqui.

Karachi Film Society (KFS)

Karachi Film Society (KFS) is a non-profit organisation and parent body of Pakistan International Film Festival (PIFF). Established in 2017 by Sultana Siddiqui, President, HUM Network, KFS spotlights Pakistani cinema, world cinema and recognises and supports new film makers by providing access through workshops, seminars and festivals.

The founding members of KFS include Dr Ishrat Husain (former Governor State Bank of Pakistan), Ameena Saiyid (MD Lightstone Publisher, Former MD OUP), Senator (r) Javed Jabbar (writer/producer, former Information Minister), Sirajuddin Aziz (Senior Banker Habib Bank A.G. Zurich), Jamil Baig (CEO, Neuplex Cinemas), Ronak Lakhani (Chairperson SOP), Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy (Oscar winning director/producer), Sayeeda Leghari (Managing Director/Chairperson, Pepsi Sukkur Beverages (Pvt. Ltd.), Dr Khurshid Qureshi (Chairman, DICE Foundation) and Dr Fauzia Saeed (Former Pakistan National Council of Arts, PNCA).

The primary goal of KFS is to improve access for people in innovation and excellence within different categories and genres of cinema and films to highlight the unique scope of this mass medium.

Service to the Community

U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council is a public-private partnership that seeks to increase women’s economic participation in Pakistan by catalyzing commitments from the private sector, civil society and government leaders in both countries to advance women’s economic empowerment in Pakistan.
Islamic World Forum is designed to bring together leaders in the realms of politics, business, media, academia, and civil society from across the Islamic world.
Women’s Leadership Forum provides a strong platform that connects and empowers women, helping them to realize their potential and reach new heights. It offers in-depth learning, networking, inspiration, and career advice. Register today and help advance your career, grow your organization’s business, and learn leadership trends and transformations present in today’s workplace.
International Federation of Business and Professional Women is an influential international network of business and professional women from more than 100 countries in five continents with Consultative Status at ECOSOC/United Nations. Founded in 1930, BPW International develops the professional, leadership and business potential of women on all levels through mentoring, networking, skill building and economic empowerment programme and projects around the world.
The World Leaders Forum is a year-round event series at Columbia University that has hosted over 300 heads of state and world leaders from over 85 countries since it was first established in 2003 by President Lee C. Bollinger.
Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) is a chartered University duly recognized by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. It is one of the oldest institutions in South Asia, which started as a school in 1885, became a college in 1943 and a university in February 2012.
Sindh Graduate Association is a Human Social Organization, which recognizes intercultural, interpersonal fundamental basis for voluntary work. Objectives: Sindh Graduates Association is a non-political Humane Social Organization recognizing inter-cultural and inter personal interaction for national harmony and peace among all sections of population.
The Begum Nusrat Bhutto (BNB) Women University Sukkur was established with the sole objective to empower, facilitate and inspire Women with ambition. BNB Women University aims to enable capable women by providing quality education alongside exposure to endless opportunities for their socio-economic growth. Women participation is essential in all professional fields including Education, Technology, Management, Engineering, Politics, and Legislation among others.
The Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) is an initiative for the professional development, training and networking of Pakistani journalists and media.