AMBER ARSHAD: What is the thrust of The Reham Khan Show?
REHAM KHAN: As Pakistanis, we need to emulate success. The purpose of the programme is to highlight Pakistani heroes – not only their success, but their pain and struggle as well; about how they did not resort to whining and fought on bravely. We have selected Pakistanis who are not only high achievers, but who can serve as role models.
I want to talk about their life beyond their profession and discover who they really are. For example, the world knows Jehangir Khan as a squash champion, yet he has an amazing family story. His elder brother, Torsam Khan, collapsed and died during a tournament match. This profoundly affected Jehangir and he vowed to carry on his brother’s dream. I want to bring forward stories which will inspire Pakistanis to achieve more.
AA: What was life like before you entered the media?
RK: I was born in Ajdabiya in Libya; my parents were living there, as my father who was a surgeon was posted there – so I was literally born in the middle of the Sahara! We moved to Peshawar when I was eight.
"When I was still in the 11th grade, I got married to my cousin and we moved abroad, where I had my children. I was not allowed to continue my education after marriage and faced a lot of difficulty completing my graduation."
A lot of people think I was born with a silver spoon, but it was very tough for me. After graduating I started my post grad in Sociology, but by then I was contemplating divorce and after I did, I could not continue with my studies as I had to start working immediately, although I also enrolled in a nationally accredited journalism course.
I used to apply for every opportunity that was advertised. I even considered becoming a dinner lady, but they would take one look at me and think me over qualified.
I then worked freelance, delivering company brochures door to door; I also did basic salon work from home. Finally, I was hired by Legal TV in Birmingham.
AA: What did you do there?
RK: Initially they asked me to sit with the host as a guest. However, they liked my work so much that they fired the current host and hired me as the anchor. They offered me a very disappointing salary at first and tried to sweet talk me into accepting it, but when I proved my mettle and drastically improved the show’s ratings, I was given a pretty healthy raise!
When you are good at something, you should never do it for free or let people walk over you!
AA: You also worked at a radio station during that period?
RK: I did and for entirely economic reasons. My salary at Legal TV was barely enough to cover my home expenses and fuel costs. In 2007, I was hired as a presenter for the Breakfast News & Sport Show at Sunshine Radio in Hereford & Worcester. I used to leave at 5:00 a.m. come home in the afternoon and then head to Birmingham for the evening show at Legal TV. This went on until 2008, when I was hired as a weather presenter for the BBC. Three months later, I was made part of the permanent staff.
"Working at the BBC is like working for PTV – once you are hired, no one can kick you out; it is really a ‘pakki naukri’!"
I worked there for almost five years, moving up from the weather to becoming a senior broadcast journalist. Then I had to move back to Pakistan.
AA: Why so?
RK: My father passed away in 2011, and my mother was finding it difficult to cope. As the only single child among my siblings, I was the one in a position to move back. This was at the time of the 2013 elections in Pakistan.
When I was offered the opportunity to work as an anchor at NewsOne, I thought ‘Why not? Working in a volatile and happening region like Pakistan would look great on my CV!’
AA: After the UK, what differences did you find working in the media in Pakistan?
RK: Firstly, there are hardly any trained people. The cameramen, researchers, editors, light men etc., are all learning on the job. Secondly, most media organisations do not pay their employees on time. On the outside our media appears very vibrant and the anchors are highly paid. However, the crew, which really make the show, is underpaid and not given the respect they deserve.
The Pakistani media is like a wild child who has grown up on the streets without the benefits of ‘achi tarbiyat’ (good upbringing). There are no rules or regulations to monitor a conduct which could have made that child turn into a ‘muhazzab jawaan’ (respectable adult).
AA: How did you cope with this environment?
RK: I had a tough time putting together a team. I had to teach them everything – and some of the people who did have the expertise were not pushing themselves enough. The reason I have been successful is because if I make my crew work for 16 hours a day, I work 18.
I lead by example; I am in the office earlier than they are. I try to keep everyone involved and connected.
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