Have you ever ever felt the fun of discovering {that a} cherished reminiscence from the previous, like a treasured nostalgic film or TV present, is making a comeback? That’s the joy many PTV viewers of yore are presently experiencing as a singular journey and journey present from the late 90s and early 2000s has made its return to the small display. First aired in 1999 on PTV with the identify Journey Information of Pakistan, this one-of-a-kind sequence is making a promising comeback with, heralding the return of its charismatic host, Wajahat Malik.

The present’s revival couldn’t come at a greater time for PTV or for Pakistan’s budding tourism business, which is being promoted relentlessly by the federal government — a lot in order that teams of international journey content material creators have been invited to satisfy Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif within the current previous.

Lengthy earlier than Bear Grylls turned a worldwide identify, Malik was showcasing Pakistan’s gorgeous landscapes and various topography, taking viewers on thrilling adventures throughout the nation. A real maverick, and a gypsy at coronary heart, Malik has devoted his profession to exploring and selling Pakistan’s pure magnificence. The years haven’t diminished his ardour.

In an unique interview with Pictures, Malik shared what drives him to maintain exploring and showcasing the wonders of — and now, largely the cruel realities going through Pakistan, resembling air pollution, irresponsible tourism and lack of civic sense.

“Folks lately are mindlessly patriotic, hyper-nationalistic, and jingoistic. Fortuitously or sadly, I’m none of that. However regardless of all of this, it’s so simple as this — I really like my land,” Malik shared. It’s this deep-rooted love for Pakistan that drives his work.

Regardless of getting quite a few possibilities to relocate to international lands after his exhibits and expeditions nearly ended, an adventurer soul like his by no means left for greener pastures.

“I’ve travelled to far-off locations, even lived eight years of my life within the US within the early 90s once I was learning and had an important likelihood of acquiring citizenship. However with my absolutely sane thoughts, I rejected the supplied inexperienced card as a result of I knew I might by no means name [the US] my very own.

“I noticed how migrants are handled and determined I’d by no means undergo all of it.”

One would possibly surprise about Malik’s resolution, given the difficulties Pakistan has since discovered itself in. Malik dismisses the thought with a wry snicker as we converse in regards to the absurd state of affairs the nation is caught in. He calls it an attention-grabbing nation, stuffed with conundrums, that pulled him again each time a possibility like that landed at his door.

“After all, that is my nation and I really like every thing about it. I can’t go and dwell some place else as a result of I’m deeply rooted in Pakistan, its air, its land, its mountains.”

Challenges aplenty

Curiosity about what lies past the height — very like many moments Malik has encountered in his personal life — mirrors the present state of affairs of Pakistanis who discover themselves sucked right into a whirlpool of issues amid an unsure future, striving to realize perspective from the height.

Throughout our dialog, Malik delved into the cruel realities that aren’t solely damaging the nation’s social and environmental material but in addition eroding the nation from inside. His problem-solving abilities and survival instincts are continuously at work as he makes an attempt to stipulate options — one thing our authorities has persistently failed to realize.

As an environmentalist and local weather change activist, Malik firmly believes that local weather change needs to be on the forefront of everybody’s thoughts, viewing it as Pakistan’s most urgent concern. He recalled the devastating floods of 2022 because of which nearly a 3rd of Pakistan was submerged, and the current heatwaves which have accelerated the melting of glaciers up north.

Nevertheless, the realist in him recognises the true risk is political instability. “How can a rustic survive whether it is politically unstable? With out political stability, there could be no financial stability, and with out financial stability, addressing vital points like local weather change turns into almost unimaginable,” Malik highlighted.

Local weather change, which has not too long ago turn into a prime precedence for a lot of, is a matter near Malik’s coronary heart and one thing he has all the time been mulling over for a while. His work focuses on land conservation, notably illustrated by his resolution to raft down the size of the mighty Indus River with a gaggle of intrepid adventurers again in 2022. Throughout this mission to doc how this ‘river of life’ is faring within the face of environmental degradation and human intervention, he gained a lifetime of studying about Pakistan, its land, and the vital connection between water, land and its species.

Again to the longer term

Malik is from Mansehra and spent his childhood exploring the mountains and cultivating his now deep information in regards to the land and its topography. Changing into an outside TV presenter was by no means a part of his plan.

Coming from a household of diplomats, he moved overseas for larger research, an schooling that contributed to creating a beautiful mixture of scientific information and regional knowledge that he acquired by dwelling with the locals in Mansehra. In 1999, the nation gained a TV presenter and who not solely supplied cherished and thrilling views but in addition actually understood what he was speaking about and made certain to share his information along with his eager viewers.

And now he’s again on the identical channel, the state broadcaster PTV, regardless of the rising variety of privately-run channels which have mushroomed in Pakistan.

When the subject turned to his resolution to return to the identical platform the place he began his journey, we segued into an attention-grabbing dialog. Malik stated that PTV, because the state’s channel, continues to be being watched in all places. “PTV is a terrestrial channel watched by many, from cities to villages to mountainous areas. Even as we speak, individuals within the streets recognise me as a result of they’ve seen me on it.”

His sentiments and the sensation of nostalgia is mirrored by means of the numerous feedback left by followers on movies of his previous exhibits on YouTube or his personal social media accounts.

PTV, in accordance with Malik, focuses on academic programmes for the general public that different channels both miss or really feel they don’t seem to be accountable for producing. That’s why he believes these channels are missing this facet relating to curating exhibits, sequence, or programmes for his or her viewers.

He identified that for these “sethia-run channels”, their content material is kind of restricted.
“Their [private channels’] horizons are restricted to soaps, dramas, or information, which then additional limits the horizons of individuals watching. They will’t assume past that.”

However that doesn’t imply he’s sporting rose-tinted glasses relating to working for PTV once more. He’s been working with the state broadcaster on and off for years — most not too long ago on his present Rickshaw Diaries by which he made historical past by travelling to the Khunjerab Go on the Pakistan-China border in Could 2019, the primary time a four-stroke rickshaw reached an altitude of 4,700 metres above sea degree. Malik feels that whereas PTV is remitted to showcase documentaries, exhibits, and sequence that spotlight the constructive points of Pakistan and educate audiences, the selection to work with it comes with its personal set of execs and cons.

He acknowledges the puzzling extent of censorship enforced by the state channel. With a wry chuckle, Malik remarked, “At instances, I ponder, konsi sadi fundamental reh rahe hain [what century are they living in].” He recalled a time when channel officers instructed him to not pose shirtless by the pool or present ants on graves in a graveyard. “What else might we present moreover a person shirtless in a pool or ants on graves?” he questioned incredulously.

“It’s stunning, however additionally it is the truth and is an element and parcel of working with them. PTV’s advertising and marketing is just not the best, and the broadcasting high quality is just not excessive however is bettering and is healthier now than prior to now. Political actions can disrupt your present, however no less than they nonetheless air it.”

Regardless of these points, Malik says he would moderately work with them over some other channel, as a result of he believes it’s nonetheless the most-watched channel within the nation. Whereas that’s actually debatable, particularly given the recognition of personal TV channels, he stated an enormous chunk of individuals in rural areas watch PTV.

Social media versus TV

Throughout our dialogue, we lastly turned to a vital facet of journey journalism as we speak — social media. When requested how he plans to compete with native and worldwide influencers selling tourism and journey by means of their immensely widespread Instagram reels, Malik dismissed them with a flick of the finger.

“Documentary-making and documentary-makers have depth, whereas vloggers, although well-known on social media, are superficial and lack depth,” he asserted. “These reels are effective for immediate gratification however it may possibly by no means fulfill somebody looking for particulars and information. You keep in mind them for 2 minutes after which swipe away,” he added.

For Malik, his work and mission are completely different. He goals to coach, present in-depth content material, and make a long-lasting influence on the hearts of his viewers.

With the primary 4 episodes already out, watch Malik’s newest sequence Journey Pakistan on Thursdays at 6pm on PTV Residence or on YouTube.