Nasim Zehra

Nasim Zehra is a Pakistani journalist and writer. She currently hosts a primetime current affairs talkshow on Channel 24.

Early life and education

Zehra pursued her business studies at Quaid-e-Azam University in Pakistan. After completing that degree, she moved to the United States to study diplomacy at the Fletcher School at Tufts University in 1989. This academic background provided a foundation for her subsequent work in international development and media.

She worked as a development practitioner for two different organizations. These included the Canadian International Development Agency and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Career

Zehra transitioned into academia through various visiting roles. She served as a visiting lecturer at the School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University in 2006. Later, she returned to Quaid-e-Azam University to lecture in 2010. In September 2015, she joined the National University of Sciences and Technology as a visiting professor, a position she held until February 2016.

Her media career began in earnest when she joined Dunya News in November 2008. As an anchor, she hosted the program Policy Matters until February 2013. During this tenure, she interviewed various national and global leaders—including Michael Mullen—to discuss pressing political issues.

In April 2013, Zehra moved to Capital TV where she acted as the current affairs editor. She departed from Capital TV in October 2014 and joined Channel 24 during that same month. She continues her journalistic presence through print media by writing columns for several international publications. These include the Dubai-based Gulf News and the UAE-based Khaleej Times, as well as Arab News in Saudi Arabia.

Zehra is also a published author. In 2018, she released her book titled From Kargil to the coup: Events that shook Pakistan. The text chronicles the context of the Kargil conflict and examines its consequences on relations between India and Pakistan. At the launch ceremony, experts such as Arif Nizami, Sohail Warraich, and former Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir participated in a panel discussion regarding the work.

On 8 March 2023, The Friday Times published a list of the top female journalists in Pakistan. Zehra was included in this list. According to the newspaper, she described the experience of journalism in Pakistan as being like a roller coaster due to political chaos and power plays.

Awards and recognition

The Agahi Foundation, which is a non-profit organization in Pakistan, recognized her work in 2016. She received the Agahi Award for excellence in journalism. Specifically, she was named the Journalist of the Year for being the Most Credible Anchor of the Year.