Ishrat Fatima reveals mental stress behind exiting Radio Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Veteran broadcaster Ishrat Fatima has opened up about the reasons behind ending her 45-year-long association with Radio Pakistan, calling the decision one of the most difficult of her life.

A household name who rose to prominence through Pakistan Television’s news bulletins, Ishrat Fatima’s announcement has stirred strong emotions in media circles and among her admirers, as she has long been regarded as a symbol of credibility and seriousness in Pakistani news reading.

Earlier, Ishrat Fatima shared a video of her final news bulletin on Radio Pakistan on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), bidding farewell to listeners.

In the video, she thanked Radio Pakistan and its audience from the depths of her heart for standing by her throughout the long journey.

In the subsequent 13-minute video message, she spoke candidly about the background of her decision.

She said the choice was extremely difficult and that she had been under intense mental stress. She said that before taking the step, she prayed to God to place ease and betterment in her decision.

Ishrat Fatima said that her formal journey as a newsreader began in 1984, while her association with radio and television dates back to 1983.

She described news reading not merely as a profession, but as a passion, love and lifelong obsession — one that remains unchanged even today.

She emphasised that there has been no decline in her voice, pronunciation, health or professional capability, and said she has always remained punctual and deeply committed to her work.

Despite this, she complained that she was not provided with appropriate opportunities to continue working.

She said that while she was repeatedly described as a senior and a legend, in practical terms her experience and hard work were not given the recognition they deserved.

She added that she was made to feel time and again that she was no longer needed — an experience she described as deeply painful.

Ishrat Fatima said she waited for a long time in the hope that conditions would improve, but eventually felt compelled to part ways with Radio Pakistan. However, she assured her fans that she would not disappear completely and would remain connected with them through social media, sharing her memories and experiences.

It may be recalled that in recognition of her outstanding services, Ishrat Fatima has been awarded prestigious honours by the government of Pakistan, including the Pride of Performance and Sitara-e-Imtiaz. She has served as a prominent anchor of PTV’s 9pm Urdu news bulletin, while her career began with Radio Pakistan’s programme Khel aur Khilari. Her refined Urdu, powerful voice and dignified style earned her a distinguished place in the 1980s and 1990s.