For decades, Pakistan Television set the gold standard for prime-time drama in the country. Its studios gave birth to unforgettable stories, always grounded in social realities and everyday struggles—whether it was the thought-provoking serials of the 1970s or the classics from the 1980s and 1990s that continue to live on YouTube and in public memory. But today, private channels dominate the TV ratings, and digital platforms chase billions of views. This has left many asking: what went wrong with PTV, and is there any hope for its comeback?
Veterans of the industry say the issue isn’t a lack of equipment or money—it’s a lack of vision. Actor Javed Sheikh told The Express Tribune that technical limitations aren’t really holding PTV back. “PTV has everything,” he insisted. “The equipment, the resources—Rawalpindi, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, every centre is well set up. They used to make dramas before, and they can do it again.”
Sheikh believes the leadership, or the will to change, is what’s missing. “We need a fresh cultural minister, a new MD, a chairman—someone who shakes things up completely,” he said. “It’s really that simple.” He’s also pushed back against claims that there aren’t any strong writers left. “Just look at the dramas people watch on private channels or digital platforms—they’re smashing records,” he pointed out. “Where do you think those writers came from?”
As for audiences, Sheikh sees proof everywhere they’re still hungry for good stories. He referred to recent shows like Jama Taqseem, Paamal, Case No. 9, and director Nadeem Baig’s work, saying, “If society didn’t accept these stories, they would be flops. But they’re hits. That’s your rating.”
Still, Sheikh doesn’t ignore the role of money. “These days, dramas are made for five or ten crores,” he said. “PTV needs to up its budget. Top actors and writers won’t work without good pay.” Despite this, he believes PTV still has an edge—“No private channel has the resources PTV does.”
Actor Behroze Sabzwari painted a bleaker picture. He described PTV as being forced into retirement by bureaucratic red tape. “PTV has been sidelined like an old man
