Tag: PTV

  • Shagufta Ejaz not happy with changes in TV Dramas, prefers how things used to be

    Shagufta Ejaz not happy with changes in TV Dramas, prefers how things used to be

    Shagufta Ejaz not happy with changes in TV Dramas, prefers how things used to be

    Veteran television star Shagufta Ejaz is not happy with the way dramas are shaping out these days. Neither are we, to be honest.

    Recently, the actress appeared on the TV show Gup Shup hosted by Vasay Chaudhary. During the show, she discussed the professionalism of the older generation of actors compared to newer ones. She also shared her views on the latest trends in the drama industry.

    “Actors had patience back then, but current actors seem to lack it. We were very skilled in our work, but now actors don’t seem to have that same level of skill and maturity. Today’s actors achieve success and financial stability quickly, while it took us decades to reach that level of success. In the past, actors prioritized their work, focusing on their craft without many distractions. They concentrated on their performance rather than on sets and surroundings.”
    You can watch the video here:

  • Shehnaz Sheikh speaks out about ‘Ankahi’ salary, social media

    Shehnaz Sheikh speaks out about ‘Ankahi’ salary, social media

    Veteran actress Shehnaz Sheikh may have stopped acting in dramas long ago, but she remains one of the nation’s favorite celebrities. She will be hosting a talk show on PTV soon, but she won’t be returning to acting anytime soon.

    Talking about her hit drama Ankahi in an interview with BBC Urdu, Shehnaz Sheikh said, “I was paid Rs. 800 per episode. Clothes, food, nothing was provided; we had to arrange everything ourselves, even transportation. After three years of ‘Tanhaiyaan,’ the payment increased to Rs. 1000. I am talking about a top-grade actor.”

    She also discussed her thoughts on social media. The host asked how does she see social media.’ She said, “I am thankful that during our time, all this wasn’t there. These phones didn’t exist, you can’t even imagine how our lives would have been exposed. The thought of someone recording, imagine if a camera came out, you’d know. In our entire class, there was hardly one person with a camera; it was so rare and your privacy is gone. But oh my god, the information you get! I can’t think of my life without social media. I love it. I watch TikTokers, reels, whenever I see them. As I said, if I don’t like something, I just scroll ahead.”

  • Agha Shiraz had a spiritual experience with a mysterious stranger

    Agha Shiraz had a spiritual experience with a mysterious stranger

    Agha Shiraz is a well-known face in television, also famous for his magic tricks to entertain his colleagues. While occasionally making awareness videos and appearing on talk shows, Agha Shiraz is currently not working on any acting projects.
    Recently, he made an appearance on PTV Home’s Ramadan transmission. During the show, he shared a supernatural experience that he experienced which positively impacted his life.

    He shared details of an incident that occurred in 2019, while he was offering Namaz E Asar in a mosque near Karachi Sea View. He said, “While I was praying, someone tapped my shoulder and asked me to offer the Salah again. They also told me that my prayers would not be accepted until I seek Allah’s love and guidance. Even though I didn’t pay attention to their advice and completed my Darood and Dua. When I turned to look at the person, they were nowhere to be found. I then asked the Imam Masjid, who said, ‘I observed you talking to someone invisible. Let me tell you something important, the spiritual beings (Jinn) pray here after Asar. I think you should follow the guidance you received just now.”

    He also said, “I was praying, asking for blessings for the person who ran away with my 1.5 million. His phone had been off for 1.5 years. When I raised my hands to pray after Namaz, I received a call from that person asking, ‘Agha brother, where are you?’ He said he would arrive within 15 minutes. I came outside, and in 2019, when COVID started, he handed me 1.5 million cash. He asked for forgiveness, saying he had left the country due to some problems.”

  • PTV legend Rashid Dar passes away

    PTV legend Rashid Dar passes away

    Renowned Pakistani TV producer Rashid Dar has sadly passed away on 15 march 2024 . Known for his iconic dramas like ‘Sona Chandi’, ‘Andhera Ujala’ and ‘Man Chalay Ka Sauda’
    Dar’s contributions to the industry were immense. He battled cancer and passed away in Lahore at the age of 84. His funeral prayers were held near his home in Mozang, Lahore.
    Rashid Dar’s demise marks another loss of a legend in the Pakistani entertainment industry. His work during the golden era of PTV has left an indelible mark on viewers worldwide.
    May his soul rest in peace, and may his family find solace during this difficult time.

  • Amar Khan’s father opposes her career in the media industry

    Amar Khan’s father opposes her career in the media industry

    Pakistani parents are very fond of telling their children what to do and which career to select. Even famous celebrities are not immune to parental disapproval.

    In a recent podcast with Frieha Altaf, Pakistani television and film actress Amar Khan discussed her parents’ divorce and her difficult relationship with her father.
    Amar Khan is the daughter of veteran PTV actor Fareeha Jabeen.

    Sharing her experience, Amar Khan expressed, “My father is not currently supportive. In the past, during some vacations, I met him. However, he wasn’t pleased when he learned about my entry into the media industry. Our relationship was quite formal. When I was about to enter the media industry, he sent me an email expressing his concerns. He wrote, ‘You are entering your mother’s profession, and I don’t want you to inadvertently bring shame to the family. I am not okay with it.’ In response, I assured him, ‘I will not bring shame to my mother or your family.’ Since then, we haven’t communicated. Despite my mother’s efforts to reconcile, I find it challenging to develop affection for him.”
    Amar Khan also discussed her parents’ divorce, stating, “I am the only child from my mother’s side. My parents separated; I didn’t spend much time with my father, so I am a single child, brought up in Lahore in a Punjabi family.”

  • Singer Amjad Pervaiz passes away of kidney failure

    Singer Amjad Pervaiz passes away of kidney failure

    Renowned singer Amjad Pervaiz, known for many hit songs, has sadly passed away due to kidney failure at the age of 79. His family has confirmed that he had been struggling with renal disease for some time.
    The family announced that Amjad Pervaiz’s funeral will be held on Monday, March 4, after noon prayer at Main Boulevard Mosque in Shadman, Lahore.

    Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has expressed sadness over Amjad Pervaiz’s passing. “His music will always be remembered and appreciated,” she said.

    Amjad Pervaiz was born in Lahore in 1945. His father was a chemistry professor, and his grandfather was the principal of Islamia College Lahore. Despite his academic background, Amjad Pervaiz pursued his love for music.
    He started singing as a child at Radio Pakistan, Lahore station. With the help of music teacher Ustad Salamat Ali and others, he became a famous singer.
    Amjad Pervaiz’s music has touched many hearts and will continue to do so. He will be missed by all who knew him and loved his songs.

  • More than 120 million people will vote on February 8, says Murtaza Solangi

    More than 120 million people will vote on February 8, says Murtaza Solangi

    The Caretaker Information Minister, Murtaza Solangi, said on Monday that over 120 million people will vote on February 8, as the general elections are scheduled on the same date.

    According to PTV, he passed the remarks while addressing a ceremony.

    Murtaza Solangi also said that the caretaker government helped the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to make the election process smooth.

    “Elections are just two days away,” he added. “People will choose their representatives by exercising their right to vote.”

    The information minister also said that according to the constitution, elected representatives will run the country.

  • PTV News ne Faiz Ahmad Faiz ko Ahmad Faraz bana dia

    PTV News ne Faiz Ahmad Faiz ko Ahmad Faraz bana dia

    On the 39th death anniversary of renowned poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, another poet Ahmad Faraz’s picture was aired on PTV (Pakistan Television Corporation) News.

    Multimedia Journalist Farhan Khan took to X (formerly Twitter) and stated, “This was
    @PTVNewsOfficial ‘ bulletin at 9 o’clock last night. On 39th death anniversary of renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, another poet Ahmed Faraz’s picture is being shown. How could this mistake have happened?”

    X user Muhammad Ali wrote, “Looks like someone at @PTVNewsOfficial got ‘autocorrected’ re Faiz/Faraz . Whatever the case may be, the producer doesn’t deserve the job, must be fired.”

  • Journalist removed from PTV panel after questioning PM Shehbaz

    Journalist removed from PTV panel after questioning PM Shehbaz

    President of Lahore Press Club, Azam Chaudhry, was dismissed by state-run PTV after questioning Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the “diminishing space for freedom of speech” and the increased restrictions over media in Pakistan during a press conference in the provincial capital. 

    Chaudhry posed a two-part question to the prime minister, addressing both widespread media restrictions in the country as well as the interim government’s plan to continue executing the current economic policy. He inquired about the end of media restrictions, specifically, when would journalists be granted the freedom to speak and write without constraint. 

    In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed his disapproval of curbs on media freedom but deflected responsibility to Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb, while acknowledging the need to distinguish between politics and the authority of the state, emphasized that the two should be treated separately.

    In a conversation with The Current, Chaudhry revealed that he was reportedly told by PTV right after the conference that he would not be invited back to his regularly scheduled program Ba-khaber, of which he is one of the pioneer journalists since 2022. 

    He also shared that he was informed earlier in the day that PTV would be doing a panel program after the press conference with two other journalists, Sajjad Mir and Salman Ghani. However, after his questions to PM Shehbaz, he was taken off-air and told that he was no longer with PTV.

    Many news platforms have reported that Azam Chaudhry lost his contract with the state channel; he asserts that he never claimed to be an employee of PTV. He was working as a freelance journalist, with an ‘approval letter’ stating he would be paid PKR 18,000 per program appearance (for Ba-khaber), for three programs per week. 

    According to Chaudhry, the moment the press conference concluded, PTV verbally conveyed to him that he would not be invited back to present on Ba-khaber, so he could take his leave. 

    Speaking to The Current, Chaudhry chuckled at how well-punctuated his point at the press conference became after his dismissal. “I talked about freedom of expression at the press conference, and I was off-aired right after – it proves my initial point [of ongoing media restrictions]”. 

    Ironically enough, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was reportedly discussing his government’s media-friendly policy at the very same press conference, chiding the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for only inviting “chosen journalists” to media interactions. According to the Tribune, however, leading journalists from prominent English dailies were excluded from this particular press conference.

    Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted earlier that the story is “completely false and baseless”. She reiterated Dar’s point of the previous PTI government being declared a ‘Press Freedom Predator’ by Reporters Without Borders, and only allowing selected reporters and journalists to its press conferences. 

    In conversation with the Express Tribune, Chaudhry said journalists in Pakistan were operating in a “very suffocating environment”, where they were not allowed to express themselves freely. 

    “I was not fired on establishment’s orders, I was fired by this government, but in the larger scheme of things, people would blame them.” he said, adding that this tenure also “exposes Pakistan People’s Party and their claims of being upholders of democratic principles”.

  • ‘3 billion allocated to finance films, health insurance for artists’: Marriyum Aurangzeb

    ‘3 billion allocated to finance films, health insurance for artists’: Marriyum Aurangzeb

    The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, announced in a tweet two days ago that for the first time ever, the federal government has allocated at least Rs3 billion for the Film Finance Fund while Rs1 billion will be used to provide health insurance for artists.

    The minister highlighted the necessity of the move in playing a major role in the growth of the film industry, and in providing security for performing artists.

    Here is the complete tweet:

    “I am equally delighted to announce that funds have been allocated both for the Film Finance Fund and for Artists’ Health Insurance for the first time ever. Rs 2 bn have been allocated for the Film Finance Fund and Rs 1 bn for the Artists’ Health Insurance. I am certain that, jointly, these measures will play a major role in the growth of our film industry and improvement in the welfare of our nation’s Artists. This will play a key role in the promotion of Pakistan’s narrative, heritage and culture through films, as well as the growth of screen tourism in Pakistan.”

    In May, Aurangzeb had inaugrated PTV’s National Film Production Institute in Islamabad. At the ceremony, Aurangzeb revealed that the project will help in promoting Pakistan’s narrative worldwide, through screen tourism via the National Film, Culture Policy 2018, which states that cinema houses in the country will also be restored.