Fereeha Idrees (also spelled Fareeha Idrees) is a prominent Pakistani journalist and TV anchor known for her prime-time current affairs shows. She currently hosts News Edge with Fereeha Idrees on GNN, and has previously anchored flagship programs on Abb Takk, Waqt News, and Samaa TV. Beyond broadcast, Fereeha Idrees has built a career spanning British and Pakistani media, from the BBC and The Guardian to some of Pakistan’s most-watched political talk shows.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Fereeha M. Idrees |
| Date of Birth | DOB not publicly confirmed by a credible source |
| Age | |
| Birthplace | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Religion | Islam (reported; not personally confirmed by subject) |
| Education | Postgraduate degree in Broadcast and Print Journalism, University of Westminster, London, UK |
| Profession | Journalist, TV Anchor |
| Known For | Hosting “News Edge” on GNN; formerly “Tonight with Fereeha” on Abb Takk |
| Spouse | |
| Social Handles | X/Twitter: @Fereeha; Instagram: @fereehaidrees.official |
Who Is Fereeha Idrees?
Fereeha Idrees is one of Pakistan’s recognizable current affairs anchors, known for a direct interviewing style and coverage of domestic politics, security, and cross-border issues. She is active on X under the handle @Fereeha, where she comments on political and diplomatic developments in Pakistan.
Her career bridges two media markets — she began as a journalist in the United Kingdom before relocating her career to Pakistani television, where she has built experience as a writer, editor, documentary maker, journalist, and producer over more than two decades in media.
Early Life & Family
Fereeha Idrees was born in Lahore, Pakistan. Detailed information about her family background, parents, and siblings is not widely published or verifiable through credible sources.
Education
Fereeha Idrees holds a postgraduate degree in Broadcast and Print Journalism from the University of Westminster in the UK.
Career
Early Career in the UK (2000s)
Idrees started her journalistic career in the United Kingdom, joining a well-known women’s magazine before working with The Guardian, the BBC, Channel 4, and the Daily Mirror, and writing for various publications across Pakistan and Europe. She also served as a spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain.
Move to Pakistani Broadcast News
Idrees worked with CNBC Pakistan as Bureau Chief, hosting the 8 PM show “Islamabad Sey,” before moving to Samaa TV, where she hosted the flagship current affairs program “News Beat.” In January 2011, she took over Samaa’s prime-time current affairs program News Beat, which aired Friday to Sunday. She later anchored an 8 PM show on Waqt News.
Abb Takk Years: “Tonight with Fereeha” (2015–2022)
Idrees joined Abb Takk TV in March 2015, where she hosted the channel’s flagship program “Tonight with Fereeha” for eight years. She announced her departure from the channel in a tweet in August 2022, thanking Abb Takk and its leadership for the opportunity, calling it a “sad moment for leaving old friends.”
GNN and “News Edge” (2022–Present)
Shortly after leaving Abb Takk, Idrees joined GNN TV in August 2022, reportedly bringing her production team with her, with the channel promoting her arrival as bringing “fearless, transparent and unbiased journalism.” She now hosts News Edge with Fereeha Idrees, airing Monday to Thursday at 10:03 PM on GNN, with repeat telecasts through the week. The show remains active as of March 2026, with recent episodes featuring guests spanning politicians, analysts, and retired officials discussing domestic and regional affairs.
Major Awards / Recognition
No major journalism awards for Fereeha Idrees are documented in publicly available, credible sources at this time.
Controversies
Fereeha Idrees’s interview style has occasionally drawn friction with guests. In one widely circulated on-air moment, PTI leader Fayaz Chohan accused her of “doing dirty journalism” and left her show mid-interview — an incident that circulated on Pakistani news and YouTube channels. As with most on-air political disputes in Pakistan, reactions to the exchange split along party lines, and Claude/this article does not take a position on which side was in the right.
Separately, some social media commentary has periodically questioned the tone of her coverage of the ruling PML-N government, given posts on her X account defending Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s diplomatic record. This reflects the polarized nature of political commentary in Pakistani TV journalism generally rather than a confirmed, singular controversy.
Personal Life
Details of Fereeha Idrees’s personal life, including marital status and family, are not consistently documented in public sources. She has stated a long-standing interest in literature and reading in past profile interviews.
Fereeha Idrees in 2026
As of 2026, Fereeha Idrees continues to host News Edge with Fereeha Idrees on GNN, airing Monday through Thursday at prime time, with the show still actively producing new episodes as of March 2026 featuring senior politicians, retired bureaucrats, and analysts. She remains one of the more visible current-affairs anchors in Pakistan’s private TV news landscape and continues to be active and vocal on X (Twitter) commenting on Pakistani politics and diplomacy.
Shows / Programs Hosted
| Show | Channel | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Islamabad Sey | CNBC Pakistan | |
| News Beat | Samaa TV | 2011… |
| 8 PM with Fereeha Idrees | Waqt News | |
| Tonight with Fereeha | Abb Takk | 2015–2022 |
| News Edge with Fereeha Idrees | GNN | 2022–present |
FAQs
1. Who is Fereeha Idrees?
Fereeha Idrees is a Pakistani journalist and TV anchor, currently hosting “News Edge with Fereeha Idrees” on GNN.
2. Which channel does Fereeha Idrees currently work for?
She currently anchors on GNN, hosting News Edge, Monday to Thursday at 10:03 PM.
3. Why did Fereeha Idrees leave Abb Takk?
She announced her departure from Abb Takk in August 2022 after eight years, without publicly detailing her reasons, before joining GNN shortly after.
4. What is Fereeha Idrees’s educational background?
She holds a postgraduate degree in Broadcast and Print Journalism from the University of Westminster, London.
5. Did Fereeha Idrees work for British media?
Yes — earlier in her career she worked with The Guardian, the BBC, Channel 4, and the Daily Mirror in the UK.
6. What was Fereeha Idrees’s show on Abb Takk called?
She hosted “Tonight with Fereeha” on Abb Takk from 2015 to 2022.
7. Is Fereeha Idrees married?
This information is not publicly confirmed by a credible source.
Last updated: August 2026
