🌟 Golden Era of PTV (1964–2000): Dramas, Shows & Memories That Still Live On

Pakistan Television (PTV) has given us a treasure of unforgettable dramas, shows, and memories. From 1964 till 2000, it was not just a TV channel – it was the soul of Pakistani households. Families would gather around the TV set, waiting eagerly for the evening transmission, as PTV brought entertainment, culture, education, and art into every home.

1969

Khuda ki Basti (The Earth’s Firmament) – Written by Shaukat Siddiqi (based on his novel).
First aired 1969, remake Oct. 1974 – Jan. 1975.
Alif-Noon – Written by Kamal Ahmad Rizwi.
- 1st season: Dec. 1969–70
- 2nd season: 1971–72
- 3rd season: 1981–82
  (Most popular satirical comedy in PTV history.)

1973

Shehzori – Dramatized by Haseena Moin on Azeem Baig Chughtai’s novel.
Kiran Kahani (Kiran’s Story) – Written by Haseena Moin.
Aik Chehra Kai Chehray (A Manifold Face) – Based on short stories by Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi. (Dec. 1973–July 1974)

1974

Neelam Ghar – Hosted by Tariq Aziz.
- 1st season: 4th Nov 1974
- Later became Tariq Aziz Show (1993) and Bazm-e-Tariq Aziz (2006–2016).
  (PTV’s most celebrated entertainment program.)

1975

Jhok Sayal – By Munnoo Bhai (story by Sayed Shabbir Hussein).
Nai-Purani Aik Kahani (Old & New Stories) – Juvenile drama, dramatized by Kishwar Naheed.
Roomi – Juvenile drama by Haseena Moin.
Intizar Farmaiye (Wait, Please!) – Written by Athar Shah Khan.

1976

Shamaa – Dramatized by Fatima Suraiya Bajya (novel by A.R. Khatoon).
Aik Tha Gaon (It was a Village) – Dramatized by Johar Mir (novel by Fehmida Akhtar).
Tabeer (The Effect) – Written by Saleem Ahmad. (1976–77)
Aik Muhabbat Sau Afsanay (One Love, Many Legends) – Written by Ashfaq Ahmad. (1976; remake 1998–99)

1977

Parchaiyan (The Shadows) – Dramatized by Haseena Moin (novel: “Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James).
Kalyan (Buds) – Conceived & written by Farooq Qaiser. (1st Season Jan. 1977–Oct. 1980)

1978

Uncle Urfi – Written by Haseena Moin.

1979

Waris (The Heir) – Written by Amjad Islam Amjad. (Oct. 1979 – Apr. 1980)
Fifty-Fifty – Comedy skits (1979–81).
Alif Laila (Arabian Nights) – Juvenile drama series (1979–82).

1980

Koonj (Crane) – Written by Yunus Qayasi.
Dhund (The Fog) – By Haseena Moin (based on “My Cousin Rachel”).
Akhri Chatan – Dramatized by Saleem Ahmad (novel by Naseem Hijazi).

1981

Afshan – By Fatima Suraiya Bajya (novel by A.R. Khatoon).
PTV Awards – First awards ceremony held in 1981.

1982

Nashaiman – Written by Saleem Chishti.
Silsila (The Sequence) – By Shahid Kazmi.
Sona Chandi – By Munno Bhai (1982–83).
Ankahi (Untold) – By Haseena Moin.

1983

Khidmat Markaz (Philanthropic Center) – Written by Fazal Hussein Samim.
Samundar (Sea) – By Amjad Islam Amjad.
Shaheen (The Eagle) – By Saleem Ahmad & Asad Muhammad Khan (novel by Naseem Hijazi).
Deewarain (The Walls) – Written by Abdul-Qadir Junejo.

1984

Namoos (The Prestige) – By Dr. Muhammad Azam Azam.
Jungle – By Noor-ul-Huda Shah.
Angan Tehra (Blind Spot) – By Anwar Maqsood.
Lazawal (Exalted) – By Asghar Nadeem Sayed (novel by Bushra Rehman).
Andhera Ujala (Darkness & Light) – By Yunus Jawed (1984–86).

1985

Ana – By Fatima Suraiya Bajya.
Bhoot Bangla (Ghost Bungalow) – Juvenile drama by Ghulam Muhammad Qasi.
Karwan (Caravan) – By Abdul-Qadir Junejo.
Mausam (Season) – By Fazal Hussein Samim.
Waqt (Time) – By Amjad Islam Amjad.
Koshish (Struggle) – By Zulqar Nain Haider.

1986

Asman Tak Deewar (Wall to the Sky) – By Noor-ul-Huda Shah.
Chhaon (The Dusk) – By Shahid Kazmi.
Darya (River) – By Asghar Nadeem Sayed.
Tanhaiyan (Solitude) – By Haseena Moin.
Khaleej (Gulf) – By Imran Saleem.

1987

Dhoop Kinarey (Sunlight by the Edge) – By Haseena Moin.
Nigar Khana – By Dr. Anwar Sajjad.
Shikast-e-Arzoo (Fall of Yearning) – By Hameed Kashmiri.
Bhanwar (The Vortex) – By Amar Jalil.

1988

Salakhein (The Barriers) – By Dr. Dennis Isaac.
Zeenat – By Fatima Suraiya Bajya (novel by Mirza Qaleej Baig).
Saye (Silhouettes) – By Zakya Akbar.
Jashn-e-Tamseel – Long-play festival (Mar. 1988).

1989

Neelay Hath (Blue Hands) – By Shahid Kazmi.
Piyas (The Thirst) – By Asghar Nadeem Sayed.
Jangloos – Dramatized by Shaukat Siddiqi (based on his serialized novel).

1990

Khuaish (The Desire) – By Asghar Nadeem Sayed.
Madaar (Axis) – By Rauf Khalid.
Barish (Rain) – By Dr. Dennis Isaac.
Ba-adab! Ba-mulahiza! Hoshiyar!! – Comedy by Athar Shah Khan.
Jheel (Lake) – By Munno Bhai.
Chakar-e-Azam – By Atta Shad.

1991

Pat-jharr (The Fall) – By Yunus Jawed.
Waqt ka Aasman (The Sky of Time) – By Sabit Muhsin (1990–91).
Ahat (The Rustling) – By Haseena Moin.
Bayaban (Desert) – By Dr. Muhammad Azam Azam.
Rozan – By Orya Muqbool Jaan.
Fishaar (The Thrust) – By Amjad Islam Amjad.
Taan-Sen – By Haseena Moin.
Guest House – Comedy series (1991–92).
Muqadma-e-Kashmir – Special play by Bakhtiyar Ahmad.

1992

Mandi (The Street) – By Asad Muhammad Khan.
Kasak (The Sigh) – By Haseena Moin.
Uroosa – By Fatima Surraiya Bajya (novel by Zubeda Khatoon).
Suraj Mukhi (Sunflower) – By Bano Qudsia.
Karoobi (Cherub) – By Dr. Dennis Isaac.
Din (Day) – By Amjad Islam Amjad.
Lakirain (Rays) – By Akram Zaib.
Anch (The Split) – By Naheed Sultana Akhtar.

1993

Faraib (The Deceit) – By Mustansar Hussain Tarar.
Intiha (Culmination) – By Shaukat Qehr.
Gul-e-Lala – By Saadullah Jan Burq.
Kiran – By Khalid Ahmad (novel by Zubeda Khatoon).
Rozan-e-Zinda – By Hameed Kashmiri.
Noreena – By Yunus Qayasi (novel by Razia Butt).
Nijaat (Emancipation) – By Asghar Nadeem Sayed.
Ainak Wala Jin (Spectacled Jinni) – By A. Hameed (1993–96).

1994

Marvi – By Noor-ul-Huda Shah.
Alou (The Blaze) – By Asghar Nadeem Sayed.
Eteraaf (Confession) – By Hameed Kashmiri (novel by M.A. Rahat).
Zehr-Baad – By Dr. Tariq Aziz.
Qasmi Kahaniyan – Based on stories by Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi.
Dhuwan (The Smoke) – By Ashir Azeem.
Ghar Aik Nagar (Home Sweet Home) – By Fatima Suraiya Bajya.

1995

Raigzaar – By Musarrat Kalanchwi.
Reza Reza (Into Pieces) – By Iftikhar Haider.

1996

Musafat (The Journey) – By Musarrat Kalanchwi.
Ranjish (Bad Blood) – By Yunus Jawed.
Susraal (In-Laws) – By Rehmatullah Manjhoti.

1997

Hawaien (The Winds) – By Asghar Nadeem Sayed.

1998

Rahein (The Tracks) – By Mansha Yad (Punjabi novel).
Family Front – By Yunus Butt (1998–2000).

1999

Piyasi (Thirsty) – By Bushra Rehman (novel).
Shaam-se-Pehle (Before Sunset) – By Seema Ghazal.

2000

Zaib-un-Nissa – By Azra Babar.
Dupatta (The Stole) – By Dr. Tariq Aziz.
Dhoop aur Saibaan (Sunlight & Shade) – By Musarrat Kalanchwi.

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

PTV Classic Dramas List: Writers, Directors, and Legendary Cast (1964–2000)