Tarar visits Ishrat Fatima, invites her to train at PTV

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 15 January 2026 |  JP Staff Report

Information Minister Ataullah Tarar visited Ishrat Fatima after her resignation from Radio Pakistan and invited her to train anchors at Pakistan Television on pronunciation and standards. Fatima agreed and Tarar pledged to recognize senior media professionals.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar visited the home of veteran broadcaster Ishrat Fatima days after she resigned from Radio Pakistan, according to a statement he shared publicly on X.

In his post, Tarar described the meeting as a gesture of respect for Fatima’s decades-long contribution to broadcasting and said he discussed ways for her experience to continue benefiting public media, particularly Pakistan Television.

Invitation to support the next generation of anchors

Tarar said he requested Fatima to contribute to pronunciation standards and professional training for a new generation of news casters at Pakistan Television (PTV). He added that Fatima expressed her willingness to take on this role, signaling a potential return to public broadcasting in an educational capacity.

Fatima is widely recognized in Pakistan for her work in radio broadcasting, especially for language precision and on-air discipline, and has long been regarded as a reference point for broadcast standards among younger journalists.

Assurance on valuing senior media professionals

In the same post, the information minister said he assured Fatima that senior figures who have served Pakistan Television and the broader state broadcasting system would be looked after and that their professional experience would be given due recognition. He framed this commitment as part of a broader effort to honor long-serving media professionals.

Tarar also stated that Fatima’s decision to leave Radio Pakistan was her own and that the government accepted it without dispute, emphasizing that there was no compulsion involved in her departure.

Context of resignation and public media role

While Fatima’s resignation from Radio Pakistan earlier this week prompted public discussion within media circles, Tarar did not outline specific reasons for her decision in his statement. He said she was welcome at PTV, underscoring the government’s intent to retain experienced voices within state-run media institutions.

The episode highlights ongoing debates in Pakistan about the future of public broadcasters, the preservation of professional standards, and the role of senior journalists in mentoring younger staff at a time of rapid change in the media landscape.

PHOTO: Screenshot from the Information Minister's publicly shared video