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{{Short description|Pakistani television shows and dramas}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

'''Pakistani dramas''', or '''Pakistani serials''', are [[Serial (radio and television)|televised serials]] produced in [[Pakistan]]. Although most of the serials are produced in [[Urdu]], an increasing number are produced in other [[Pakistani languages]] such as [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and [[Balochi language|Balochi]]. One of Pakistan's oldest television dramas is the Urdu serial ''[[Khuda Ki Basti (TV series)|Khuda Ki Basti]]'', which aired in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1169324|title=Old but not forgotten: Top 10 Pakistani dramas to re-watch now|last=Ahmad|first=Bisma|date=13 March 2015|website=DAWN.COM|language=en|access-date=9 September 2019}}</ref> Pakistani dramas, like serials elsewhere, reflect the country's culture. According to critics, the decades of the 1970s and 1980s are considered to be the golden age of Pakistani serials.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/why-turkish-soap-operas-are-a-hit-in-pakistan-20418|title=Why Turkish soap operas are a hit in Pakistan|website=Why Turkish soap operas are a hit in Pakistan|language=en|access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref>

In 2016, a ''[[Dawn News]]'' report estimated that the five major entertainment channels combined produce around 80 dramas every year, with an average of 16 dramas per channel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siddiqui |first=Maleeha Hamid |last2=Samiuddin |first2=Shahrezad |date=26 June 2016 |title=The business of drama |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1266704 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204204048/https://www.dawn.com/news/1266704 |archive-date=4 December 2024 |website=[[Dawn News]]}}</ref>

They have helped to attract viewers nationwide to television.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/23/indian-tv-channel-show-pakistani-soaps|title=Indians to get peek into daily lives of Pakistanis with new soap opera channel|first=Jon|last=Boone|date=23 June 2014|website=the Guardian}}</ref> The serials are widely popular in [[South Asia]]n countries, including [[Afghanistan]],<ref name="geo.tv">{{cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/126730-The-Durand-Debate-Beyond-Boundaries-afghanistan-pakistan|title=The Durand Debate – Beyond Boundaries|website=www.geo.tv}}</ref> [[Bangladesh]],<ref name="tribune.com.pk">{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/650893/bangladesh-government-to-ban-pakistan-tv-channels/|title=Bangladesh cable operators seek ban on Pakistani TV channels - The Express Tribune|date=26 December 2013}}</ref> [[India]] and [[Nepal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/195864-Pakistanis-are-peaceful-hospitable-Nepalese-envoy|title=Pakistanis are peaceful, hospitable: Nepalese envoy|website=www.thenews.com.pk|date=31 March 2017}}</ref>

== Origin ==
Many Pakistani dramas are based on [[Pakistani literature|Urdu novels]]. In the years following 1969, many authors, such as [[Umera Ahmad]] and [[Farhat Ishtiaq]], became television writers. Both Umera and Farhat have written content for [[Pakistani literature#Digests|digests]] as well as television serials.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://herald.dawn.com/news/1153194|title=Read pray love: Inside the enigmatic world of Urdu digests|last=Asif|first=Haseeb|date=6 July 2015|website=Herald Magazine|language=en|access-date=13 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahmer |first=Imtiaz |title=Pakistani dramas |url=https://teatvapk.net/ |website=Pakistan Television PTV}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In recent years, Pakistani dramas have increasingly begun to tackle social issues that are considered taboos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/354672/tackling-societal-issues-through-televised-stories/|title=Tackling societal issues through televised stories|date=14 February 2019|website=Daily Times}}</ref>

== Social impact ==
[[Feminism in Pakistan|Pakistani feminists]] are usually concerned about the depiction of women in Pakistani drama TV serials, they receive many of those with skepticism & reservation.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1531866|title=The contrite gender formula of Meray Paas Tum Ho and the portrayal of women in cultural scripts|last=Zia|first=Afiya S.|date=3 February 2020|website=DAWN.COM|language=en|access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://nayadaur.tv/2020/01/10-problematic-things-about-meray-paas-tum-ho/|title=10 Problematic Things About 'Meray Paas Tum Ho'|last=Sarwari|first=Aisha|date=26 January 2020|website=Naya Daur|language=en-US|access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> UK based Pakistani feminist Tasneem Ahmar, whose research institute focuses on the women-media relationships, complaints 99.99% of TV drama in Pakistan is misogynistic, patriarchal, medieval in its depiction and treatment of [[Women in Pakistan|women's]] issues.<ref name=":52" /> Ahmar says there is no doubt that Pakistani Drama TV serials are hugely popular among all strata of Pakistani society, but unfortunately they waste their potential of doing better in projecting progressive values rather than regressive values of women's depiction & support to equal rights.<ref name=":52">{{Cite news|last=Sarfraz|first=Mehmal|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/the-good-women-and-bad-women-of-serials/article30831052.ece|title=The 'good' and 'bad' women of serials: How a Pakistan show has triggered debates on depiction of women on television|date=15 February 2020|work=The Hindu|access-date=10 April 2020|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>


==Popularity outside Pakistan==
{{also|List of Pakistani television series}}
===Middle East===
In 2013, the Pakistani drama ''[[Humsafar]]'' was dubbed into [[Arabic]] and broadcast by [[Middle East Broadcasting Center|MBC]] in the [[Middle East]] as ''Rafeeq-Al-Rooh''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?218169-Pakistani-drama-Humsafar-(Rafeeq-Al-Rooh)-takes-the-Arab-world-by-the-storm|title=Pakistani drama Humsafar (Rafeeq Al Rooh) takes the Arab world by the storm|access-date=21 August 2014|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201081348/https://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?218169-Pakistani-drama-Humsafar-(Rafeeq-Al-Rooh)-takes-the-Arab-world-by-the-storm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The show was immediately successful and, after its first few episodes were broadcast, became the channel's most-watched drama. Before this, Pakistani dramas were not broadcast in the Middle East. After ''Humasafar'', other shows such as ''[[Malaal]]'' (aired as ''Hob-Wa-Nadam''), ''[[Zindagi Gulzar Hai]]'' (aired as ''Asrar Al Hob''), ''[[Khaani]]'', ''[[Aisi Hai Tanhai]]'', ''[[Suno Chanda]]'' and several others were also dubbed into Arabic and broadcast by MBC.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cyberbullying drama Aesi Hai Tanhai gets an international release |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1180617/cyberbullying-drama-aesi-hai-tanhai-gets-an-international-release |access-date=7 August 2018 |work=Dawn |date=6 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/465044-feroze-khan-on-khaani-airing-on-saudi-arabian-tv |title=Feroze Khan on Khaani airing on Saudi Arabian TV |last=Shabbir |first=Buraq |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mashrqnews.com/post/141839/مسلسل-زفاف-بلا-زوجين-الحلقة-الاخيرة-زفاف-بلا-زوجين-الحلقة-30|title=مسلسل زفاف بلا زوجين الحلقة الاخيرة .. زفاف بلا زوجين الحلقة 30|last=نيوز|first=المشرق|date=2019-05-31|website=المشرق نيوز|language=ar|access-date=2019-06-02}}</ref>

===India===
Dramas such as ''Deewarein'', ''[[Waris (serial)|Waris]]'', and ''[[Jungle (PTV series)|Jungle]]'' were popular in India during the 1980s:<ref name = toi/> according to a 1988 ''[[India Today]]'' report which described it as an "invasion", Pakistani serials such as ''[[Tanhaiyaan|Tanhaiyan]]'', ''[[Ankahi]]'' and ''[[Sona Chandi]]'' gained remarkable popularity in India, to the extent that demand for their video cassettes rivaled or even surpassed that of Hindi films in some regions. According to the report, video libraries across [[North India]] and [[Western India]], with cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Jodhpur, Srinagar, and throughout Punjab widely stocked these Pakistani serials, with customers often returning repeatedly for the same titles. In Bombay, where all of the 3,000 video librairies stocked cassettes of Pakistani dramas as per the ''India Today'' report, their popularity was described as comparable to that of a major Bollywood release, such as [[Amitabh Bachchan]] films, offering Indian audiences a sense of nostalgia and a level of sophistication that critics argued was missing from contemporary Indian television. The phenomenon was partly attributed to the polished direction, strong acting, "technical perfection" and the emotional resonance these serials carried, evoking memories of pre-Partition cultural connections.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 May 1988 |title=Pakistan TV-serials invade Indian homes |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19880515-pakistan-tv-serials-invade-indian-homes-797225-1988-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241122083512/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19880515-pakistan-tv-serials-invade-indian-homes-797225-1988-05-14 |archive-date=22 November 2024 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref>

Eventually, the [[Government of India|Indian government]] imposed a ban on Pakistani television channels in India.<ref name="toi">{{Cite web|url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-looking-to-reverse-ban-on-Pakistani-TV-channels/articleshow/14877070.cms|title = India looking to reverse ban on Pakistani TV channels|date = 14 July 2012|access-date = 22 September 2014|website = timesofindia.indiatimes.com|publisher = Times of India|last = Parashar|first = Sachin}}</ref> In 2009, the [[Senate of Pakistan]]'s broadcasting division appealed to the [[Parliament of India]] to lift the ban. In 2012, India began debating whether to reverse the ban on Pakistani television channels. India assured Pakistan that it would consider a proposal by Pakistani foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani to lift the ban.<ref name="toi" />

Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) launched an entertainment television channel, [[Zindagi (TV channel)|Zindagi]], on 23 June 2014.<ref name = ab>{{cite news|title=Bye-bye unending television dramas, welcome Zindagi|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/tv/news/Bye-bye-unending-television-dramas-welcome-Zindagi/articleshow/37520651.cms|access-date=22 September 2014|publisher=Times of India|date=1 July 2014}}</ref> The channel aired syndicated television shows from Pakistan, and has been well received.<ref name="Hindustan Times">{{Cite web|url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/television/zindagi-gulzar-hai-cross-border-love-on-screen/article1-1227084.aspx|title = Zindagi Gulzar Hai: cross-border love on screen|date = 7 June 2014|access-date = 22 September 2014|publisher = Hindustan Times|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140703124216/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/television/zindagi-gulzar-hai-cross-border-love-on-screen/article1-1227084.aspx|archive-date = 3 July 2014|df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref name = cb>{{cite news|title=Spotlight: A lifeline called Zindagi|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1114018|access-date=22 September 2014|work=DAWN.com|publisher=Asra Pasha}}</ref><ref name = z>{{cite web|title=Gear Up For Two New Shows On Zindagi|url=http://www.businessinsider.in/Gear-Up-For-Two-New-Shows-On-Zindagi/articleshow/38217298.cms|website=businessinsider.in|access-date=22 September 2014|last=Sharma|first=Nandini|archive-date=13 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713235724/http://www.businessinsider.in/Gear-Up-For-Two-New-Shows-On-Zindagi/articleshow/38217298.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref> It has been criticized, however, for showing dramas with a smaller number of episodes. To appease viewers,<ref name="tvc">{{cite web|url=http://www.zeenews.india.com/entertainment/idiotbox/coming-up-new-hindi-channel-zindagi-june-23_155247.html|title=New Hindi channel Zindagi|publisher=[[Zee News]]|date=19 May 2014|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626112704/http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/idiotbox/coming-up-new-hindi-channel-zindagi-june-23_155247.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name = nn>{{Cite web|url = https://www.dawn.com/news/1122357|title = Zindagi channel treats Indian viewers to the best Pakistani dramas on offer|date = 30 July 2014|access-date = 22 September 2014|website = dawn.com|publisher = Dawn}}</ref><ref name = gg>{{Cite web|url = https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2014/0730/Why-do-Indians-like-Pakistani-soap-operas-so-much|title = Why do Indians like Pakistani soap operas so much?|date = 30 July 2014|access-date = 22 September 2014|website = csmonitor.com|publisher = The Christian Science Monitor|last = Nazakat|first = Syed}}</ref> the channel aired hundreds of Pakistani television shows since then including ''[[Aunn Zara]]'', ''[[Humsafar]]'', ''[[Pyarey Afzal]]'', ''[[Zindagi Gulzar Hai]]'' and ''[[Meray Paas Tum Ho]]''.<ref name="ab" /><ref name="cb" /><ref name="z" /><ref name = nn/><ref name = gg/><ref name="bb">{{Cite web|url = https://www.dawn.com/news/1119811|title = Zindagi Gulzar Hai: Pakistani drama serials win hearts in India|date = 17 July 2014|access-date = 22 September 2014|website = dawn.com|publisher = Dawn}}</ref> ''Zindagi Gulzar Hai'' became so popular that it was re-run one month after it ended its initial run in India.<ref name="bb" /> In September 2016, however, Zindagi dropped all Pakistani shows from their line-up. In this way, [[Zindagi (TV channel)|Zindagi]] came to its end on television.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/new-line-up-on-zindagi-has-no-pakistani-serials-3053535/|title=New Line Up On Zindagi has no Pakistani serials|publisher=Indian Express|date=29 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india.com/showbiz/zee-channel-zindagi-removes-pakistan-shows-announces-new-line-up-starting-october-3-1521365/|title=Zee channel Zindagi removes Pakistan shows, announces new line-up starting October 3!|publisher=India Today|date=29 September 2016}}</ref>

In July 2020, it was announced that [[Zindagi (TV channel)|Zindagi]] will make its comeback digitally and brand will come with its 5 original Web Series including ''[[Mrs. & Mr. Shameem]]'', ''Abdullah Pur Ka Devdas'', ''[[Churails]]'', ''[[Ek Jhoothi Love Story]]'' and ''[[Dhoop Ki Deewar]]'' along with some old and new shows from Zindagi Library.

Some already broadcast television series and some of the recent years such as ''[[Diyar-e-Dil]]'', ''[[Mera Naam Yousuf Hai]]'', ''[[Mann Mayal]]'', ''[[Baaghi (TV series)|Baaghi]]'', ''[[Behadd]]'', ''[[O Rangreza]]'', ''[[Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahi]]'', ''[[Shehr-e-Zaat]]'', ''[[Suno Chanda]]'' and many others started to premiere from July 2020 on [[ZEE5]] with a premium membership.

[[Star India]] began airing of ''[[Mera Naam Yousuf Hai]]'' in 2015 on their channel [[Star Plus]] and thus becoming the channel's first ever Pakistani drama. The series was aired in India, UAE, USA, Ireland, UK, Austria, Europe, Canada and Latin America.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Mera Naam Yusuf Hai'' to hit the screens on Indian Channel|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1147642|publisher=Dawn News|access-date=7 March 2015}}</ref>

As per research study of Pakistani popular drama conducted by Indian scholar Jyoti Mehra, North Indian audience gets a sense of cultural familiarity which they can relate to while watching Pakistani drama.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Mehra|first=Jyoti|date=2019|title=Analyzing Portrayals of Modern Women and Popular Culture in Television Soap Operas of Pakistan|journal=Media Watch |volume=10|issue=3|pages=628–684 |issn= 0976-0911 |doi=10.15655/mw/2019/v10i3/49678|s2cid=202532277|doi-access=free}}</ref> The study also gives credit to the content of Pakistani dramas for its comparative realism with fast pace, shorter duration and limited number of episodes for its acceptability among Indian audience.<ref name=":2" />

===Other countries===
Pakistani dramas are shown in [[Afghanistan]],<ref name="geo.tv"/> [[Bangladesh]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://opinion.bdnews24.com/2014/08/12/on-pakistani-dramas-and-the-bangladeshi-mind/|title=On Pakistani dramas and the Bangladeshi mind - The Opinion Pages|date=12 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="tribune.com.pk"/> [[Nepal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1179118|title=Once upon a time in Nepal|first=Noman|last=Ansari|date=1 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/195864-Pakistanis-are-peaceful-hospitable-Nepalese-envoy|title=Pakistanis are peaceful, hospitable: Nepalese envoy|website=www.thenews.com.pk}}</ref> Pakistani television shows are aired on [[cable television]] channels in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Norway]], [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Turkey]] and [[Iran]] for the [[Pakistani diaspora]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apnahub.ca/entertainment-detail/pakistani-drama-humsafar-takes-the-arab-world-by-storm/#arvlbdata|title=Pakistani drama Humsafar (Rafeeq Al Rooh – رفيق الروح) takes the Arab world by storm!|date=8 November 2013}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Cinema of Pakistan]]
* [[List of highest grossing Pakistani films]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

=== Further reading ===

* Television Publics in South Asia: Mediated Politics and Culture. India, Taylor & Francis, 2023.
{{Dramatic television series}}
{{WorldTV}}

[[Category:Pakistani drama television series|*]]
[[Category:Pakistan Television Corporation original programming|*]]
[[Category:Pakistani popular culture]]
[[Category:Television in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Asian drama]]

Pakistani dramas - Revision history

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