End of an era on the airwaves

Veteran broadcaster Ishrat Fatima, long regarded as a benchmark of credibility and dignity in Pakistani news reading, has ended her 45-year association with Radio Pakistan, a decision that has stirred deep emotion across media circles and among generations of listeners.

Fatima, who built her public identity through Pakistan Television's flagship news bulletins, announced her departure by sharing a video of her final Radio Pakistan news bulletin on X, formerly Twitter, thanking listeners and the institution for decades of trust and companionship.

In the farewell message, she said she was saying goodbye to a 45-year-long relationship, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Radio Pakistan and audiences who stood by her throughout her journey, while asking followers to remain connected through her social media platforms.

In a subsequent 13-minute video message, Ishrat Fatima spoke openly about the circumstances behind her decision, describing it as extremely "painful and mentally exhausting", adding that she sought divine guidance before taking a step she found deeply distressing.

She explained that her professional journey in news reading formally began in 1984, with her association with radio and television dating back to 1983, stressing that reading news was never just a job but a passion, love and lifelong obsession.

Fatima firmly rejected any suggestion of professional decline, stating that her voice, pronunciation, health and ability to work remain intact, and that she has always been punctual, sincere and committed, despite being denied what she described as fair working opportunities.

She said she was repeatedly labelled "a senior and a legend", yet her experience and dedication were not reflected in practical recognition, adding that she was consistently made to feel no longer needed, an experience she described as profoundly hurtful.

Expanding further on her YouTube channel, she said she waited patiently for the work environment to improve, hoping for respect for her seniority and merit, but was instead cornered and emotionally pushed towards a decision she never wanted to make.

Fatima spoke emotionally about how institutions sometimes fail to show empathy, saying she would not have resigned had Radio Pakistan attempted to stop her, adding that she felt the organisation lacked the warmth and care that might have kept her there.

Despite her departure, she assured admirers she would not disappear from public life, promising to stay connected through social media and share memories, stories and experiences from a career that shaped broadcast journalism for decades.

Ishrat Fatima has been honoured by the government of Pakistan with prestigious awards including the Pride of Performance and Sitara-e-Imtiaz, and is remembered for anchoring PTV's renowned 9pm Urdu news bulletin after beginning her career with Radio Pakistan's programme 'Khel Aur Khiladi'.

Her refined Urdu diction, commanding yet calm voice and dignified on-air presence secured her a prominent place in the 1980s and 1990s, while tributes from fellow journalists and an outpouring of public admiration followed news of her resignation.