PTV's Golden Jubilee: Fade to black

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PTV's Golden Jubilee: Fade to black

A rare sight these days, there was a time when PTV Lahore centre used to air dance performances quite regularly. A young Naheed Siddiqui is seen here in Payal / Photos courtesy: PTV archive

By M. Saeed Awan

Pakistan entered the age of television broadcasting after establishing a small pilot TV station in Lahore on November 26, 1964, with technical and training assistance from Japan’s NEC Company. The primary transmission was in black-and-white which converted to colour transmission on December 25, 1976.


The first Holy Quran recitation was by Qari Ghulam Rasool and the first announcement was made by Tariq Aziz and Kanwal Naseer. In 1967 two more PTV centres, in Karachi and Islamabad, were inaugurated.

In the early days people would remain glued to their TV sets to watch any on-air programming. With the passage of time, drama production heightened and its popularity spread to other centres as well. PTV had begun to telecast quality programmes that left an everlasting impression on its viewers.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at the inauguration of PTV Lahore centre’s then new building in 1972. The image also bears Benazir Bhutto’s signature at the bottom

Ahmed Rushdi as seen in Sangeet Bahar

Celebrated singer Irene Parveen in a music show dating back to PTV’s black & white era


There was an air of healthy competition among all five major centres, Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta. If Lahore had Andhera Ujala (1985), Karachi had Unkahi (1982) and Quetta was on the forefront telecasting Dhuaan (1995). Islamabad centre also did not lag behind with productions such as Guest House (1990s) and Rauf Khalid’s popular series Laag and Angaar Vadi.

Subhani Bayounus in PTV Karachi centre’s Mirza Ghalib Bunder Road Per


Winning half the battle

A few years ago, while travelling from Delhi to Bangalore by train, I met a Sardarji from Chandigarh. To my utter surprise, Sardarji started praising PTV dramas. He said that when Waaris, Andhera Ujala, Dhoop Kinaray and other popular series were on air from PTV, he along with his friends would travel to Amritsar from Chandigarh (almost a four-hour journey) to watch them. “You can’t imagine,” he said with his eyes flashing, “even the advertisements on PTV fascinated us.” I felt a surge of pride.

The legendary Roshan Ara Begum


During my stay in Kuwait where I worked as a salesman at a video shop, I used to urge Indian customers to watch Pakistani films such as Aaina, Dillagi, Dosti etc. Instead they asked for recordings of PTV’s drama series, especially those featuring Irfan Khoosat!

Zafar Masud as Nosha with a co-star in Karachi centre’s Khuda Ki Basti (1960s)
Reflections of the past

The digital photo archive is well-preserved and maintained at PTV Lahore centre besides being well-displayed along the corridor walls. However, the recording/shooting studios are mostly seen empty.

“Almost 90 per cent drama production has now shifted to Karachi with only 10 per cent taking place at the Lahore centre which was once the hub and leading centre for all such activities,” said Mohsin Jaffar, an art and culture producer.

A still from an interview recording of PTV with the Duke of Edinburgh in 1982

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Noor Jehan in PTV Lahore centre’s first episode of her famous music programme Tarannum

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With PTV celebrating its Golden Jubilee last year, some well-known TV personalities have this to say about the institution:

Tariq Aziz (compere)

“Ah! Aap ne kya zamana yaad karwa diya (oh, what have you reminded me of!). I was working at Radio Pakistan as an announcer/drama artist when PTV authorities singled me out from several other hopefuls. That was truly a golden era, like stepping foot on the moon, to make the first announcement from PTV. I was even asked to train others as well. I worked almost in 40 to 50 dramas which are now lost forever as there was no recording system in place at the time.”

The first studio building of PTV’s Lahore centre dating back to 1954


Tariq credits PTV for his celebrity status along with a number of other artists. “I probably hold the world record for the most number of appearances on television.”

Musarrat Nazir of Laung Gawacha fame in the show that made her famous for her wedding songs


Firdous Jamal (actor)

“PTV started on a marvelous note and it soon captured a handsome audience. I think before the advent of private channels it produced quality work in all departments. We had prominent writers like Haseena Moin, Fatima Surraiya Bajiya, Ashfaq Ahmed, Munno Bhai, Amjad Islam Amjad, Rauf Khalid etc and outstanding producers such as Nisar Hussain, Yawar Hayat and actors like Abid Ali, Uzma Gilani, Marina Khan, Rahat Kazmi, Irfan Khoosat, Mohammed Qavi Khan and many more at all our stations.

“Frankly speaking, we were the guardians entrusted with safeguarding the ideology of Pakistan, e.g. its culture, music and customs. We not only entertained our audiences but educated them as well. We didn’t care about food or drink but only work since our mission then wasn’t to earn money but make a name for Pakistan in television production.

Faiz being interviewed for Yadish Bakhair

Tariq Aziz in the very first Neelam Ghar


“Things started to derail with substandard work produced by non-professional producers. Consequently people switched to Indian and other channels. In the end I would say that PTV is public property and does not belong to any one particular class.”

Abid Ali and Humaira Chaudhry in in PTV’s Jhok Sial (1974)directed by Yawar Hayat

Rafi Khawar aka Nannah and Kamal Ahmed Rizvi in the sitcom Alif Noon

Firdous Jamal, Mehboob Alam and Aurangzeb Laghari in PTV Lahore centre’s super-hit serial Waaris

Mansoor Soomro with Shehnaz Soomro in Karachi centre’s mid-80s serial Deewarain

 

[Pakistani shaheens]

PTV is the only channel in our country which is interested in preserving our beautiful culture unlike others whose interest only revolves around money, and eyes dont wander beyond the dollars.

PTV from the day one has been showing good quality contents which depicts our culture at its fullest. And that is the only reason why i like this channel. The dramas which this channel have shown over the years are all void of rubbish things like "saas bahu kay jhagray" or filthy cheap contents which other channels usually adopts to gain their popularity. This channel has never bothered about whether its popularity is fading or not, it has always gave priority to the good quality contents and has always put Pakistans interest first unlike other channels which can go in any extreme level to impress their masters.

Even now PTV has maintained its level, even now in this era where other private channels are giving priority to foreign programs to get financial benefit still PTV is the channel where you wont see any foreign contents. And PTV is the only channel which is promoting the Pakistani youth and appreciating their talent by giving them opportunity in tv.

I am proud to say that i grew up watching PTV, And i remember that early in the morning at 7'o clock, they use to start their day by tilawat-e-Quran-e-Pak and then with beautiful dua. And after that a pleasant looking host, wearing Pakistani dress with dupata on her head, in the morning show, use to begin the day with smile. And then they use to bring some host or some experts in their channel which use to do healthy discussions related to the topic, and the most astonishing thing was the way these people use to speak and use to talk with each other, man! they were so well manered, and honestly speaking during my childhood i have never ever seen any host or actor in the program, using offensive or abusive language, even in the political debates they had such a friendly atmosphere, which you dont see in other channels. And i remember that in the after noon, after coming back from school, i use to turn on my tv set, and guess what! everytime i use to come across programs related to dehatie life and where two or three expert kehsaans use to analyze and discuss on the dynamics of the dehatie life and their discussions most of the times use to revolves around the sundiees and other new species of worms. And not only that the ads which was displayed, also were of these types. But still its far far better than what other channels have in their menu. Anyway these zalim farm related programs were followed by some educational programs where some deadly looking professor with huge glasses use to take this educational program till the end. And then in the evening the most famous drama serial in history of Pakistan,"aynak wala jin" when use to come each and every person from child to adult use to sit infront of the tv set leaving the streets completely barren. And then 'Khabar nama" of 9'o clock, sheding light on the international and national affairs. Then later on, the one and only "Tariq Aziz" show use to come up. And then the classical songs in the 11'o clock and then prior to ending their transmission they use to play "Qaumi Tarana".

PTV was the complete package, it has played the role of an all rounder, it has broadcasted everything, from comedy shows to spooky and scary dramas, from educational programs to entertainment, sports, milli nagmay and what not! But unfortunately, this channel has been hijaked by our politicians. They have eaten this institution up like a termite. If this channel had been blessed with good management and government then this channel would have become the trade mark of Pakistan, but sadly this didnt happened instead this institution is breaking apart. I literally use to cry when i watch some old ptv programs and compare it with the current programs which our other channels are showing.

PTV is the best role model for the other channels and a real asset of Pakistan. And what government needs to do is to pay some attention in the development of this institution. And just look at other countries, how did they expanded their network of state owned channels and how did they utilized those channels to promote their culture.