KARACHI: Zubeida Mustafa, a pioneering figure in Pakistani journalism who opened the door for women in mainstream newsrooms and became a powerful advocate for social justice, passed away at the age of 84, the Karachi Press Club (KPC) confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Mustafa studied International Relations at the University of Karachi and later briefly attended the London School of Economics on a Commonwealth scholarship.

She joined Dawn in 1975, becoming the first woman to hold a senior editorial position at a major Pakistani newspaper. Over a three-decade-long career, she reshaped the paper’s editorial landscape, focusing on education, health and social issues, and inspiring a generation of women journalists who followed in her footsteps.

“Zubeida Mustafa was not just a journalist; she was an institution,” the KPC said in its statement.

“She was a pioneer, breaking barriers and paving the way for women in a field often dominated by men,” it added. “Her work on social issues, education, and health was particularly impactful, demonstrating her deep empathy and dedication to improving the lives of ordinary citizens.”

A profile in Newsline magazine described her guiding ethos as rooted in writing from the people’s perspective.

She credited Dawn editor Ahmad Ali Khan with shaping her editorial values, including the ability to distill complex issues into accessible, public-minded journalism.

Even after retiring from Dawn in 2008 due to health reasons, Mustafa remained an active voice in public discourse, continuing to write on education, population and gender justice.

Her contributions were recognized internationally in 2012 when she became the first Pakistani journalist to receive the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Dawn later established the Zubeida Mustafa Award for Journalistic Excellence in her honor.

“Zubeida Mustafa championed social, cultural and language rights like few,” the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a social media post. “She was a comrade-in-arms and stood by the disadvantaged and the oppressed.”

In its condolence note, the Karachi Press Club said her “unwavering commitment to truth, her incisive analysis, and her relentless pursuit of social justice set a benchmark for ethical reporting.”

Mustafa, who regularly contributed op-eds to Dawn, wrote her final piece in March this year, after which it became increasingly difficult for her to continue “because of her failing health,” the newspaper noted in its obituary.