Hello, Local Guides,
Some time ago, something really exciting happened for the Local Guides from Pakistan. We received an invitation from the BBC to be part of a documentary to showcase promotion of tourism by Local Guides Program. It was a great honor to share our experiences on BBC Urdu Documentaries. Then 92 News HD, and then many others.
Between all these media appearances, we received another invitation, this time from GTV News. GTV News is a popular news channel in Pakistan with a large number of viewers on TV and YouTube. They have around 394k subscribers on YouTube, which is quite impressive in Pakistan. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to be featured on GTV News and reach a wider audience.
First and foremost, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Local Guides Program. The recognition and admiration we have received are ole because we are part of this program and have been inspired by amazing Local Guides who came before us. Without the Local Guides Program, we might not have had the chance to make an impact. Thanks to this LGC, we have gained valuable knowledge that is not only beneficial for our own country but for the entire world and its inhabitants.
For this Show I posted the Meet-up on Connect to ensure that anyone in Pakistan and the rest of the world who is part of Connect and who can understand Urdu/Hindi language can watch the show live. We also shared the show’s poster through our social media messaging groups to spread the word.
When the Show began :
The three ,I, Bilal and Swalay, arrived at the GTV News Studioat around 9:00 am. The show was scheduled for 10:00 am, but we wanted to make sure we were well-prepared. Whenever we appear on a TV show or documentary, it brings a unique experience to our lives. Before the TV show started, we also enjoyed getting our makeup done. 
The show began with Host Nusrat Haris introducing herself and asking an interesting point to her audience.
She mentioned that anyone knows? That is how places are updated on Google maps with photos and reviews, and asked if we thought it was done by Google through robots or satellites.
But the truth is, it’s not done by them. Instead, it’s done by people like you and me who volunteer as Google Local Guides. People like my Guests update places and help thousands of people in our country.
She wanted us to explain the Local Guides program and how it can support Pakistan Tourism and Small Businesses through Google Maps.
So @Bilal_shaikh began by discussing the Local Guides program and explaining what it’s all about. He made sure to educate the audience about Google Maps Contributions and Local Guides Connect too.
In between, during the interview, We were watching the screen and it gave us pleasing surprise that the screenshots we given to GTV HD before show were moving on the split screen with our interview, including the screenshot from an Accessibility Virtual Meetup which was hosted by me and @JaneBurunina , when @LuigiZ was taking his world famous selfie 
There We also discussed the real benefits of the Local Guides program for countries and communities.
Promoting Tourism with Google Maps & Local Guides Connect:
One of my favorite topics to talk about is how the Local Guides program supports tourism. I explained how Local Guides share information about tourist attractions through articles on Local Guides Connect. These articles often appear in the top search results on Google, helping more people discover these beautiful places. I shared my own experience visiting RaniKot Fort in Sindh, Pakistan, and how my post on Local Guides Connect helped others learn about this amazing place, which is often compared to the great wall of China.
Supporting Small Businesses with Google Maps:
The next question was about how we can support and boost small businesses in our country through Google Maps. @Swalay who is knowledgeable in this area, explained the process of adding businesses on Google Maps and updating important information. He emphasized the positive impact Google Maps has on the local economy, giving examples such as online taxi services that rely on accurate directions from Google Maps.
We also discussed how Google Maps can benefit businesses without websites by allowing them to showcase their products, contact information, and more through the “Claim this Business” option. Also I shared my experiences during map editing walks, where I help businesses understand the importance of being on Google Maps and the benefits they can gain.
In addition to supporting tourism and small businesses, we covered several other important topics during the show, such as:
-
Explaining what the Local Guides Program is and who Local Guides are.
-
How our contributions can help people in need.
-
Sharing amazing places in Pakistan through Google Maps and Local Guides Connect.
-
Assisting differently-abled individuals through Google Maps and Local Guides Connect.
-
Promoting small businesses through Google Maps.
-
Understanding the Crowdsource App and how it aids people seeking education-related information from Google.
Here is the Facebook link to the show
“G Utha Pakistan by GTV News”.
Our Expectations from the Local Guides TV Show on GTV news:
These 16 Minutes were gave us an unforgettable experience.
The host of the show Nusrat Haris gave us fantastic responses. She mentioned that we couldn’t have an exact idea, but hundreds of people from around the world, especially from Pakistan, would watch the show. However, we are still unsure about the actual numbers. Nonetheless, we are proud to have done an amazing job as responsible citizens and Local Guides, raising awareness about the wonderful benefits of contributing to the Local Guides Program (not just financial benefits).
A special thanks to @TusharSuradkar , @NareshDarji , and @TravellerG who enjoyed the show and sent me direct messages during the program
. Saludos
