The late 2000s is considered a time that saw the boom of electronic media in Pakistan, especially news channels. This time saw the launch of some of the best news channels in Pakistan that are still considered the top five or top 10 channels of the country. The year 2008 started in Pakistan with the launch of a new news channel, Express News. The Lahore-based news channel has always been among the top news channels and gave us many big names in today’s electronic media, including Muhammad Junaid, Shahzaib Khanzada, and Imran Riaz Khan to name a few. Another dazzling name that got recognition from Express News is Ayesha Sohail.
Ayesha was part of the launching team of Express News the channel she joined when she was in her second semester of BS Honors in Mass Communication from Punjab University. She initially had a couple of months-long stint at Din News, however, her big break was Express News. It is safe to say that Ayesha Sohail was the face of Express News for more than four years. “I started my career very early, and I think I was fortunate to be part of Express News’ launching team and the time of four and a half years at Express News has been one true learning experience that gave me a lot of exposure. I did an experiment of breaking away from the set pattern of news anchoring and started Express FataFat, a news show to cast fast-paced news while standing and walking – a refreshing viewing experience for viewers that got popular. I think I got a call from Geo News in 2012 because I got noticed because of Express News Fatafat,” says Ayesha Sohail recalling her big break and shot to fame.
Earlier this year Ayesha Sohail took a sabbatical from the screen and left Neo TV, where she was hosting the 10 pm current affairs news show. Earlier this month Ayesha announced her return to screen with Salim Bokhari Show on 24 News HD. Talking about her experience with 24 News thus far, Ayesha said, “24 news, in fact, City News Network as a whole, so far is a good experience. You see, when you go somewhere new you observe the environment and how professional people are. I have 15-year experience now, it equips me to guage the work environment quicker than someone who is new. 24 news is a professional channel and a big number of true media professionals work here. The best part about the group [City News Network] is that they air six bulletins; on City 42, City 41, City 21, Rohi TV, UK 44, and 24 News, at the same time which is unprecedented.”
Ayesha Sohail worked for Neo TV for many years and hosted the program ‘Aaj Ayesha Ehtesham Ke Sath’ for more than four years. During this time she hardly ever took a break or missed her show. That is why her sudden absence from the screen was noticed. “I was away from the screen,” said the anchor, “When I was doing 10 pm show with Neo. It was so hectic. I maximum took four days off in the past four years with the show, hence the break was long due. I wanted to utilize the break after leaving Neo. I spent time with my children and we visited London,” she added.
Hailing from Lahore, Ayesha studied at Punjab University and NCA. She says the biggest reason of spending most of her career in Lahore is because of the fact that she is from Lahore and got her career’s major opportunities here. “Lahore gave me my first job opportunity when I was part of the launching team of Express news. However to think that I had purposely never been to Karachi would be wrong because when I joined Geo I moved to Karachi and worked there,” Ayesha responded. She further said that Geo News was the first offer she got after working at Express for over four years, She added, “At Geo, I gave a hit news show ‘Geo News Xtra’ it was first of its kind news bulletin of Geo completely different from the set pattern of the channel. It was hugely popular, in fact, Saba Qamar did a mimicry skit of it.”
Later Ayesha returned to Lahore and started a programmer Dopeher Ki Khabar on Geo News that she hosted till the time she left Geo in 2015. During this stint she was also a stand in host of Report Card to fill in for Ayesha Bakhsh. Moreover she co-hosted 2015 local body election transmission with Sohail Waraich on Geo News.
In 2017, Ayesha Sohail became part of the newly launched Neo TV HD as a senior news anchor and program anchor. Initially, on Neo she conducted a news show News Extra – it was on similar lines with Express FataFat and Geo News Xtra. Later she started her popular show Aaj Ayesha Ehtesham Ke Sath.
Talking about her time with Neo and eventually leaving the channel the anchor said, “I spent a long time with Neo. When you spend this much time at a place that makes you used to a certain comfort. So with time, I realized that I was not getting to do something challenging of that sort and I was doing the same thing repetitively. That is the time when I started to think about moving on. I am one of those anchors who do not switch channels a lot. For 15 years I have worked with three channels, Express, Geo, and Neo and now I am at 24 News. I have spent like 4-5 years at every channel.”
At 24 News, Ayesha is co-hosting a show with veteran journalist Salim Bokhari, something entirely different from her previous show. Commenting on her new show, Ayesha said, “My new show is quite different from my previous work it is an analysis-based show. The last show was news based show where I had to interview multiple people on top stories of the day. Now i am working with Salim Bukhari sb with fixed formate, where Salim Bokhari and I will be discussing top news stories of the day where Bokhari sb will give his analysis. He has his own style and strong opinion which makes him one of the very sought-after experts.” Ayesha seems to be in the awe of Salim Bokhari’s experience as she said, “When you work with someone who has an experience of nearly 50 years, you get to learn something new every day, which is very important to learn it is something you can not learn from books, internet research, or from social media. 50-year of experience in journalism is a big deal it also makes Salim Bokhari a witness of the history and at times an active player in it. Moreover, He never shies away from passing his experience on.”
Salim Bokhari has an image of a very aggressive and strict personality with a very loud and strong opinion, talking about her experience of working with Salim Bokhari, Ayesha termed it a wonderful experience, “I truly mean it when I say that working with Salim Bokhari sb is a wonderful experience. He is completely different from how he is seen on the screen or the perception people have about him. In reality, he is a very down-to-earth and kindhearted person. He perhaps is the best co-host that I have worked with. The best thing about him is that he makes sure that his team and co-chor are comfortable.” Commenting on Salim Bokhari’s work ethic, Ayesha said, “He is 76 MashAllah yet his energy is matchless and at the same time it is contagious, which motivates me to match his level. He is good at encouraging others and giving opportunities every now and then. Unlike many seniors, he is happy to give juniors their space and due credit. And yeah the biggest perk of working with Sailm Bukhari sb is that you get to enjoy the signature tea that he prepares himself.”
All the best @ayeshasohaileh4 and @salimbokhari for the new TV programme 👍 pic.twitter.com/zItTYP5dw7
— MediaSpring PK (@MediaSpringPk) August 25, 2022
Ayesha Sohail hosted Salim Bokhari Show airs every Tuesday to Saturday at 11 pm on 24 News HD.
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