Life on the road has a funny way of surprising you. If you had told me a few years ago that our family would be sitting on a brightly lit studio set in the middle of Karachi, wearing intricate hand-embroidered traditional clothes and filming an interview to be live-broadcast to millions of viewers across Pakistan on national television, I probably would have laughed. Yet, there we were!
Here is the pretty cool story of how we ended up on a television interview with 92News in Karachi on our first trip to Pakistan.
Travelling to Pakistan
Our journey to Pakistan is a story that actually began all the way back in 2021, long before we ever set foot in the country.
At the time, we were living in the Cook Islands, and I had the absolute pleasure of doing an online travel interview with Shafaq – an inspiring mum and doctor from Karachi with a deep, boundless passion for travel.
We connected instantly. You know those rare moments when you talk to someone for the first time and it feels like you’ve known them forever? That was Shafaq.
Before we hung up, she looked into the screen with a warm smile and said, “You guys should come to Pakistan!”
Making a First Trip to Pakistan
Fast forward to our very first trip to Pakistan (a country we love so much we’ve now visited four times!). We travelled all the way south to the massive, bustling coastal megacity of Karachi to finally meet Shafaq in person.
Shafaq, her wonderful husband Aftab, and their incredible extended family opened up their home and hosted us like family.
Since that initial trip, our bond has only grown – we’ve surprised them at the airport in Dubai and travelled together through Islamabad, Murree, and Lahore!
Immersed in the Heart of Eid Al-Adha
Arriving in Karachi during our first visit meant we were blessed to completely immerse ourselves in Eid Al-Adha, one of the most sacred holidays in the Islamic calendar. Being welcomed into a family’s home during such an intimate and meaningful time was a privilege we will never forget.
Gavin’s Eid day started early in the morning, walking alongside the men of the household to attend prayer at the local mosque.
Afterwards came the traditional sacrifice of goats outside. Gavin and the boys watched in awe as the men meticulously sectioned the meat into three precise parts, ensuring absolutely nothing went to waste.
The first portion was immediately taken to families living on the streets outside; the second portion was shared with visiting friends, neighbours, and relatives alongside gifts of sweet treats; and the third portion was kept for our massive, celebratory family feast at home.
To experience such generous hospitality, deep spiritual tradition, and genuine community care firsthand touched our hearts in ways words can barely describe. We felt so deeply embraced by the local community.
An Unexpected Invitation to 92 News
Just when we thought our trip in Karachi couldn’t get any more memorable, our host family surprised us with an incredible opportunity. We were invited to appear as special guests on 92 News for an interview; one of Pakistan’s major national TV channels!
Getting Ready for an Interview on TV
The morning of the show was a whirlwind. Before heading to the studio, our lovely hosts helped dress us in traditional Pakistani attire.
I was given a stunning, hand-embroidered Sindhi dress that was breathtakingly beautiful. The intricate mirror-work and vibrant colours felt like a piece of art. Gavin put on a sharp kurta, and even Oscar and Harry had their long hair styled to perfection.
When we arrived at the studio, the energy was electric. Makeup artists swooped in to touch up our hair and face, while stage crew members buzzed around setting up microphones.
Oscar and Harry were soaking in every second of the spotlight, joking around in the studio green room like absolute movie stars!
Before we knew it, the floor manager counted us in, and we were live on air!
Sharing Our Love for Travel and Hospitality Live on Air
The host welcomed us onto the couch with open arms, instantly making us feel right at home. The very first thing she complimented was our traditional outfit. She was thrilled to see a New Zealand family proudly wearing local Sindhi clothes on national TV!
During the interview, the host asked us what brought our family to Pakistan and how our experience had been so far.
Gavin and I had so much to share. We spoke candidly about how, from the minute we crossed the land border and stepped through customs into Lahore, we were showered with warmth.
We shared a favourite story from our first hour in the country: when an ATM wasn’t working, a complete stranger walked up to us, smiled, and handed our children cold bottles of water, simply saying, “Welcome to Pakistan!”
Talking About Travel in Pakistan
The host asked if our family back home in New Zealand knew we were traveling in Pakistan. I laughed and confessed that we sometimes keep our travel plans a little bit of a secret at first, just to savour those initial magical days for ourselves!
But we had just video-called Gavin’s family from Karachi the night before to introduce them to Shafaq’s family, and they were over the moon.
We also talked about what it’s like traveling off the beaten track with kids. We always share that children don’t hold prejudices or pre-conceived notions about places. They just see the world with open, curious eyes.
Traveling with Oscar and Harry has allowed us to connect with families everywhere on such a human level. At the end of the day, whether you are in New Zealand or Pakistan, family values, warmth, and hospitality are the universal languages that bind us all together.
“Come to Pakistan!”
Before wrapping up, the boys even got in on the action. Harry proudly showed off his favourite new phrase – “Mashallah!” – which brought huge smiles to everyone in the studio.
Stepping off the stage after the interview was such a rush. Walking out into the warm Karachi air, Oscar beamed at the camera and said, “I think we represented New Zealand quite well today!” We really couldn’t agree more.
Shukriya for the Interview, Pakistan
Being able to share our real, heartwarming, first-hand experiences of Pakistan with a national television audience was an absolute honour.
Pakistan holds such a special place in our hearts, and that unforgettable morning in Karachi was just the beginning of a lifelong love affair with this remarkable country and its unbelievably generous people.
Thank you, Pakistan.
Read More About Travel in Pakistan
- 15 Things To Do In Multan.
- 10 Things To Do In Islamabad.
- Day Trip Islamabad To Murree.
- 8 Things To Do In Islamabad With Kids.
- Day Trip Islamabad To Taxila.
- Crossing The Border From Pakistan To India.
- Review Of The Ramada By Wyndham In Multan.
- 10 Day Punjab India And Pakistan Itinerary.
Planning For Travel in Pakistan and Beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia.
- Skyscanner – This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have insurance before travel in Pakistan!
