Lahore: What started as a dramatic and unintentionally hilarious flood report has taken a twist, as viral internet personality Mehrunnisa, who rose to fame during the recent Punjab floods, finds herself at the center of a branding controversy.
Social media is abuzz with a viral video of local reporter Mehrunnisa , whose distinctive pronunciation—particularly her use of "ڑ" in place of "ر"—has made her a recognizable figure in regional broadcasting.
In a widely shared clip, Mehrunnisa delivered a "live" flood update while aboard a swaying boat. With water rising around her, she attempted a serious tone:
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“As you can see, the water pressure is rising,” before quickly abandoning the act as panic set in: “Bohat dar lagrahi, kabhi ye iss side pe hoti kabhi us, balance nae hora humse.”
Her now-iconic sign-off, “Bas ap hamare liye dua karein guys,” earned her instant internet fame. From memes to affectionate tributes, social media couldn't get enough.
“Balance nahin ho raha hum se – she’s talking about life in Pakistan, not just the floods,” one user mused.
But as her video racked up views, the name of her channel – “BBC Urdu Punjab News” – raised eyebrows.
BBC Urdu issued an official statement, firmly distancing itself from the digital media outlet:
“We have learned that a company named ‘BBC Urdu Punjab TV/News’ is using the BBC name while operating in Pakistan. BBC Urdu has no affiliation with this organization, its reporters, or its content,” the statement read. “The BBC has not authorized anyone to use its name, and we request users to verify any material published under such names through our official platforms only.”
In response, Mehrunnisa took to TikTok to defend herself and her platform. With a blend of sincerity and sass, she clarified that her "BBC" stands for something entirely different:
“BBC ka matlab hai ‘Bhai Bhai Channel’ – yeh hamara apna name hai!”
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She told that she works for a YouTube channel called "BBC Urdu News Punjab TV" and creates reporting videos for the same platform. But according to Mehrunnisa, "BBC Urdu has had our channel shut down on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok for using their name." She explained "Our channel's name was 'Bhai Bhai Channel Punjab TV' while BBC stands for British Broadcasting Corporation. After our channel got taken down, we changed the name to BBN, which stands for 'Bhai Bhai News'." She further said, "Now we’ll have to work hard all over again to get the new channel monetized. Our whole team and the channel owners have lost their source of income, which has made all of us very worried." Describing her style as "natural", Mehrunisa said: "I can’t speak in front of the camera by memorizing or reading a script. So, whatever naturally comes to my mind, I say it in my own way."
Whether or not she keeps the "BBC" title, the internet has already dubbed her the “Queen of Real-Time Flood Reporting.”
