Contrary to its regressive image, Pakistani television is dominated by women both off-screen and onscreen, according to Zindagi Gulzar Hai author Umera Ahmad.
The novelist and scriptwriter penned the romantic social drama about the struggle of a middle-class woman which concluded its successful run on the India TV recently.
“Here we have female directors and producers, in fact one whole channel is run by a woman. Pakistani TV is progressive and hence characters that are shown are of today as well,” Ahmad said in a telephone interview.
Zindagi Gulzar Hai, an adaptation of Ahmas’s novel of the same name, was directed by Sultana Siddiqui, who is also the president of television channel Hum. The show was produced by Momina Duraid, who has helmed many dramas in the past.
“Our image is shown of as a regressive country, which does not treat its women well. But we have so many women artists here. In fact most of the television writers are women,” Ahmad added.
She is hopeful that the Pakistani dramas being aired on Indian channel, Zindagi, will help dispel misconceptions about the country.
“A feeling of alienation existed in India about life in Pakistan, because most of what was known was negative. So, everyone used to believe things in our country are always bad and we don’t lead a happy life.
“But this has changed to some extent. After watching our dramas, people now know that we lead our lives similar to the way they live,” she said.
Ahmad’s next show Maat, which replaces Zindagi Gulzar Hai, is also a show with women at the centre. It is a story of two sisters with different perceptions and principles in life.
