For decades, Pakistan Television (PTV) defined the nation\u2019s prime-time drama, producing series that reflected social concerns, moral dilemmas, and daily life. From the thought-provoking serials of the 1970s to iconic dramas of the 1980s and 1990s\u2014still widely viewed online today\u2014PTV once set the standard for storytelling in the country. However, with private channels dominating ratings and digital platforms boasting billions of views, questions about PTV\u2019s decline and its potential revival have resurfaced.<\/p>\n
Veteran actor Javed Sheikh argues that the issue isn\u2019t a shortage of resources but a lack of leadership and direction. Speaking to The Express Tribune, he said, \u201cPTV has the infrastructure, equipment, and facilities across Rawalpindi, Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar. It\u2019s not a technical problem\u2014they can produce high-quality dramas again.\u201d Sheikh emphasized that strong leadership and vision are missing: \u201cA new managing director, a chairman, someone to reset the system\u2014it\u2019s that simple.\u201d He also dismissed claims that strong writers are no longer available, pointing out the massive popularity of dramas on private channels and digital platforms.<\/p>\n
Sheikh highlighted successful projects like Jama Taqseem, Paamal, Case No. 9, and works by Nadeem Baig as proof that audiences still respond to compelling storytelling. \u201cIf society didn\u2019t accept these stories, they wouldn\u2019t succeed,\u201d he said. Yet he also acknowledged that financial realities cannot be ignored. \u201cModern dramas cost five to ten crores. PTV must increase its budget; big writers and actors won\u2019t join otherwise.\u201d Despite challenges, he believes PTV\u2019s resources remain unmatched by private channels.<\/p>\n
Actor Behroze Sabzwari offered a starker view, describing PTV as hampered by bureaucracy. \u201cIt has been reduced to sitting idle like an old man,\u201d he said. Visiting PTV Karachi, he recalled empty corridors and unused infrastructure, lamenting that the channel\u2019s potential is wasted. He also noted that many of today\u2019s private television professionals were trained at PTV, underscoring that talent exists but is underutilized.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, actor-director Yasir Hussain urged caution against comparing PTV only to its past glories. \u201cIf we only remember dramas from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, we might as well call it Nostalgia TV,\u201d he said. Hussain acknowledged that PTV still has the country\u2019s widest reach through terrestrial broadcasting but criticized the channel for failing to capitalize on that advantage. \u201cThey have air-conditioned studios, yet they shoot in harsh conditions without proper facilities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
From within, PTV officials defend their strategy, highlighting the channel\u2019s broader mission. General Manager Amjad Shah noted that PTV\u2019s role extends beyond commercial entertainment. He pointed to ongoing projects including Babu Ki Dulhanniyan, plays by Asghar Nadeem Syed, Ramadan programming, religious broadcasts, and large-scale concerts by artists like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Zafar, and Atif Aslam. \u201cWe aim to balance contemporary trends with our traditions,\u201d he said. Shah admitted that commercial pressures have influenced creative choices: \u201cEarlier, directors had full freedom; now casting and glamour are often dictated by sales, which impacts creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Actress and writer Bushra Ansari highlighted the channel\u2019s underused music library, while actor Hiba Bukhari emphasized that producers prioritize projects with guaranteed returns. She cited Kabli Pulao and Case No. 9 as examples of successful unconventional stories, noting that taking risks is key.<\/p>\n
As discussions around budgets, bureaucracy, and creative freedom continue, PTV remains at a crossroads. The infrastructure is intact, talent is available, and audiences are still present\u2014but whether the channel can reinvent itself quickly and boldly enough to meet today\u2019s fast-moving media landscape remains an open question.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For decades, Pakistan Television (PTV) defined the nation\u2019s prime-time drama, producing series that reflected social concerns, moral dilemmas, and daily life. From the thought-provoking serials of the 1970s to iconic … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":52824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-showbiz","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eng.jeeveypakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eng.jeeveypakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eng.jeeveypakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eng.jeeveypakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eng.jeeveypakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=52823"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eng.jeeveypakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52825,"href":"https:\/\/eng.jeeveypakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52823\/revisions\/52825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eng.jeeveypakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/52824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eng.jeeveypakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=52823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eng.jeeveypakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=52823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eng.jeeveypakistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=52823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}