Legendary PTV anchor Ishrat Fatima alive; Social Media rumours debunked

By: Hina Shahid

Pakistan pioneer legendary news anchor of Pakisan Television (PTV), Ishrat Fatima, who is currently associated with Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), is alive and in good health.

News about Ishrat Fatima had gone viral on Social media, even shared by Pakistan’s famous anchor and filmmaker, Tauseeq Haider, on his Facebook page.

People in the post comments had also asked him about the news you shared is fake, and she is alive and in good health.

Later she spoke to Tauseeq Haider in a video call which he live streamed on his Facebook page.

This reporter reached out to Ishrat Fatima and inquired about her health, and she told that she was completely sound.

Ishrat Saqib is a newsreader and anchor for PTV and the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation. She was born in Pakistan and currently resides in Islamabad.

In the 1980s and 1990s, she was known as “the face” of the 9 PM daily Urdu news program Khabarnama. Ishrat began her career at Radio Pakistan, hosting a program called Khel aur Khiladi while still attending school.

Ishrat Fatima is recognised as “a poised lady presenting news with elegance.” She demonstrated a strong command of the Urdu language while delivering news with remarkable self-confidence.

Her simple and ordinary attire, along with her distinctive diamond nose ring, contributed to her grace onscreen. Viewers were captivated by her strong presence and the grace with which she presented the news.

Ishrat Fatima has worked for 35 years in Pakistan’s news industry. Later, she began presenting news bulletins for Voice of America. In 1996, she married Saqib Waheed and became known as Ishrat Fatima Saqib. The couple has two children. In 2019, she received the Pride of Performance Award from the President of Pakistan, as well as the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) from the Government of Pakistan and the Nigar Award.