Pakistan’s favourite travel guide is back and more adventurous than ever

Have you ever felt the thrill of discovering that a cherished memory from the past, like a treasured nostalgic movie or TV show, is making a comeback? That’s the excitement many PTV viewers of yore are currently experiencing as a unique travel and adventure show from the late 90s and early 2000s has made its return to the small screen. First aired in 1999 on PTV with the name Travel Guide of Pakistan, this one-of-a-kind series is making a promising comeback with, heralding the return of its charismatic host, Wajahat Malik.

The show’s revival couldn’t come at a better time for PTV or for Pakistan’s budding tourism industry, which is being promoted relentlessly by the government — so much so that groups of foreign travel content creators have been invited to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the recent past.

Long before Bear Grylls became a global name, Malik was showcasing Pakistan’s stunning landscapes and diverse topography, taking viewers on thrilling adventures across the country. A true maverick, and a gypsy at heart, Malik has dedicated his career to exploring and promoting Pakistan’s natural beauty. The years haven’t diminished his passion.

In an exclusive interview with Images, Malik shared what drives him to keep exploring and showcasing the wonders of — and now, mostly the harsh realities facing Pakistan, such as pollution, irresponsible tourism and lack of civic sense.

“People these days are mindlessly patriotic, hyper-nationalistic, and jingoistic. Fortunately or unfortunately, I am none of that. But despite all of this, it’s as simple as this — I love my land,” Malik shared. It is this deep-rooted love for Pakistan that drives his work.

Despite getting numerous chances to relocate to foreign lands after his shows and expeditions almost ended, an adventurer soul like his never left for greener pastures.

“I have travelled to far-off places, even lived eight years of my life in the US in the early 90s when I was studying and had a great chance of obtaining citizenship. But with my fully sane mind, I rejected the offered green card because I knew I could never call [the US] my own.

“I saw how migrants are treated and decided I would never go through it all.”

One might wonder about Malik’s decision, given the difficulties Pakistan has since found itself in. Malik dismisses the thought with a wry laugh as we speak about the absurd situation the country is stuck in. He calls it an interesting country, full of conundrums, that pulled him back every time an opportunity like that landed at his door.

“Of course, this is my country and I love everything about it. I can’t go and live somewhere else because I am deeply rooted in Pakistan, its air, its land, its mountains.”

Challenges aplenty

Curiosity about what lies beyond the peak — much like many moments Malik has encountered in his own life — mirrors the current situation of Pakistanis who find themselves sucked into a whirlpool of problems amid an uncertain future, striving to gain perspective from the peak.

During our conversation, Malik delved into the harsh realities that are not only damaging the country’s social and environmental fabric but also eroding the nation from within. His problem-solving skills and survival instincts are constantly at work as he attempts to outline solutions — something our government has consistently failed to achieve.

As an environmentalist and climate change activist, Malik firmly believes that climate change should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind, viewing it as Pakistan’s most pressing issue. He recalled the devastating floods of 2022 due to which almost a third of Pakistan was submerged, and the recent heatwaves that have accelerated the melting of glaciers up north.

However, the realist in him recognises the true threat is political instability. “How can a country survive if it is politically unstable? Without political stability, there can be no economic stability, and without economic stability, addressing critical issues like climate change becomes nearly impossible,” Malik highlighted.

Climate change, which has recently become a top priority for many, is an issue close to Malik’s heart and something he has always been mulling over for some time. His work focuses on land conservation, particularly illustrated by his decision to raft down the length of the mighty Indus River with a group of intrepid adventurers back in 2022. During this mission to document how this ‘river of life’ is faring in the face of environmental degradation and human intervention, he gained a lifetime of learning about Pakistan, its land, and the critical connection between water, land and its species.

Back to the future

Malik is from Mansehra and spent his childhood exploring the mountains and cultivating his now deep knowledge about the land and its topography. Becoming an outdoor TV presenter was never part of his plan.

Coming from a family of diplomats, he moved abroad for higher studies, an education that contributed to creating a wonderful mix of scientific knowledge and regional wisdom that he acquired by living with the locals in Mansehra. In 1999, the country gained a TV presenter and who not only provided cherished and thrilling views but also truly understood what he was talking about and made sure to share his knowledge with his keen audience.

And now he’s back on the same channel, the state broadcaster PTV, despite the growing number of privately-run channels that have mushroomed in Pakistan.

When the topic turned to his decision to return to the same platform where he started his journey, we segued into an interesting conversation. Malik said that PTV, as the state’s channel, is still being watched everywhere. “PTV is a terrestrial channel watched by many, from cities to villages to mountainous areas. Even today, people in the streets recognise me because they have seen me on it.”

His sentiments and the feeling of nostalgia is reflected through the many comments left by fans on videos of his old shows on YouTube or his own social media accounts.

PTV, according to Malik, focuses on educational programmes for the public that other channels either miss or feel they are not responsible for producing. That’s why he believes those channels are lacking this aspect when it comes to curating shows, series, or programmes for their viewers.

He pointed out that for these “sethia-run channels”, their content is quite limited.“Their [private channels’] horizons are limited to soaps, dramas, or news, which then further limits the horizons of people watching. They can’t think beyond that.”

But that doesn’t mean he’s wearing rose-tinted glasses when it comes to working for PTV again. He’s been working with the state broadcaster on and off for years — most recently on his show Rickshaw Diaries in which he made history by travelling to the Khunjerab Pass at the Pakistan-China border in May 2019, the first time a four-stroke rickshaw reached an altitude of 4,700 metres above sea level. Malik feels that while PTV is mandated to showcase documentaries, shows, and series that highlight the positive aspects of Pakistan and educate audiences, the choice to work with it comes with its own set of pros and cons.

He acknowledges the puzzling extent of censorship enforced by the state channel. With a wry chuckle, Malik remarked, “At times, I wonder, konsi sadi main reh rahe hain [what century are they living in].” He recalled a time when channel officials instructed him not to pose shirtless by the pool or show ants on graves in a graveyard. “What else could we show besides a man shirtless in a pool or ants on graves?” he questioned incredulously.

“It is shocking, but it is also the reality and is part and parcel of working with them. PTV’s marketing is not the greatest, and the broadcasting quality is not high but is improving and is better now than in the past. Political activities can disrupt your show, but at least they still air it.”

Despite these issues, Malik says he would rather work with them over any other channel, because he believes it is still the most-watched channel in the country. While that is certainly debatable, especially given the popularity of private TV channels, he said a big chunk of people in rural areas watch PTV.

Social media versus TV

During our discussion, we finally turned to a very important aspect of travel journalism today — social media. When asked how he plans to compete with local and international influencers promoting tourism and adventure through their immensely popular Instagram reels, Malik dismissed them with a flick of the finger.

“Documentary-making and documentary-makers have depth, while vloggers, though famous on social media, are superficial and lack depth,” he asserted. “These reels are fine for instant gratification but it can never satisfy someone seeking details and knowledge. You remember them for two minutes and then swipe away,” he added.

For Malik, his work and mission are different. He aims to educate, provide in-depth content, and make a lasting impact on the hearts of his audience.

With the first four episodes already out, watch Malik’s latest series Adventure Pakistan on Thursdays at 6pm on PTV Home or on YouTube.