Old Pakistani dramas are the Urdu television serials that Pakistan Television (PTV) and early private channels such as STN aired between 1965 and the early 2000s, based on scripts written as early as 1956. This list covers 25 classic dramas with the year, writer, channel, and lead cast of each title, verified as of 2026. A summary table appears first, followed by era sections, watching options on YouTube, and answers to common questions.
What Are Old Pakistani Dramas?
Old Pakistani dramas are Urdu serials produced mainly by Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), the state broadcaster launched in November 1964. Writers such as Haseena Moin, Anwar Maqsood, Amjad Islam Amjad, Munnu Bhai, and Shaukat Siddiqui defined the era. Single-channel broadcasting concentrated the national audience on one serial at a time.
Old Pakistani Dramas Summary Table
The 25 classic Pakistani dramas in this list are summarized below in order of release year.
| Drama | Year | Writer | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taleem-e-Balighan | 1956 (TV: 1966) | Khwaja Moinuddin | PTV |
| Alif Noon | 1965 | Kamal Ahmed Rizvi | PTV |
| Khuda Ki Basti | 1969 | Shaukat Siddiqui | PTV |
| Kiran Kahani | Early 1970s | Haseena Moin | PTV |
| Uncle Urfi | Early 1970s | Haseena Moin | PTV |
| Shehzori | Early 1970s | Haseena Moin | PTV |
| Parchaiyan | 1976 | Haseena Moin (adaptation) | PTV |
| Fifty Fifty | 1978 | Anwar Maqsood | PTV |
| Waris | 1979 | Amjad Islam Amjad | PTV |
| Ankahi | 1982 | Haseena Moin | PTV |
| Sona Chandi | 1982 | Munnu Bhai | PTV |
| Samundar | 1983 | Amjad Islam Amjad | PTV |
| Aangan Terha | 1984 | Anwar Maqsood | PTV |
| Andhera Ujala | 1984 | Younis Javed | PTV |
| Tanhaiyaan | 1985 | Haseena Moin | PTV |
| Dhoop Kinare | 1987 | Haseena Moin | PTV |
| Jangloos | 1989 | Shaukat Siddiqui (novel) | PTV |
| Sunehray Din | 1991 | Shoaib Mansoor (director) | PTV |
| Marvi | 1993 | Noorul Huda Shah | PTV |
| Ainak Wala Jin | 1993 | A. Hameed | PTV |
| Dhuwan | 1994 | Ashir Azeem | PTV |
| Chand Grehan | 1995 | Asghar Nadeem Syed | STN |
| Family Front | 1997 | Younis Butt | PTV World |
| Alpha Bravo Charlie | 1998 | Shoaib Mansoor (director) | PTV |
| Landa Bazar | 2002 | Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar | STN |
Oldest Pakistani Dramas (1956 to 1969)
The 3 dramas below are the earliest on this list, predating or closely following the launch of PTV in November 1964.
1. Taleem-e-Balighan (1956)
Taleem-e-Balighan is the oldest work on this list. Khwaja Moinuddin wrote the satire in 1956, before television existed in Pakistan, and PTV telecast it in 1966. The story follows illiterate adults, including a pickpocket and a butcher, learning Urdu in a night school run by a maulvi.
2. Alif Noon (1965)
Alif Noon is a comedy serial written by Kamal Ahmed Rizvi, first aired on PTV in 1965 and revived in 1982. Rizvi played Allan, a scheming businessman, and Rafi Khawar played Nanha, his honest village-born partner. Each episode exposed one type of fraud in society.
3. Khuda Ki Basti (1969)
Khuda Ki Basti is a 26-episode serial that PTV Karachi produced in 1969 from Shaukat Siddiqui’s 1957 novel of the same name. Siddiqui adapted the script himself, and the cast included Zaheen Tahira, Qazi Wajid, and Zahoor Ahmed. According to Dawn, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto asked for a second telecast, which aired in 1974.
Classic PTV Dramas of the 1970s
The 6 dramas below cover the decade that produced Pakistan’s first original serial scripts and first colour serial.
4. Kiran Kahani (early 1970s)
Kiran Kahani is cited as one of the first original Pakistani serial scripts, written by Haseena Moin and aired on PTV in the early 1970s. Shirin Khan directed the serial.
5. Uncle Urfi (early 1970s)
Uncle Urfi is an early Haseena Moin serial aired on PTV in the early 1970s. The character Beena remains one of Moin’s noted creations from that period.
6. Shehzori (early 1970s)
Shehzori is another early 1970s Haseena Moin serial on PTV. The title appears alongside Uncle Urfi and Kiran Kahani among Moin’s first popular scripts.
7. Parchaiyan (1976)
Parchaiyan was the first Pakistani drama series in colour, aired on PTV in 1976 with 13 episodes. Haseena Moin translated and adapted the story from Henry James’s novel The Portrait of a Lady. The cast included Rahat Kazmi, Sahira Kazmi, Talat Hussain, and Shakeel.
8. Fifty Fifty (1978)
Fifty Fifty is a sketch comedy series that PTV aired from 1978 to 1984. Anwar Maqsood created the show and Shoaib Mansoor directed it. The cast included Ismail Tara, Majid Jahangir, and Zeba Shahnaz.
9. Waris (1979)
Waris is a serial about a feudal family that aired on PTV from 29 December 1979 to 22 March 1980. Amjad Islam Amjad wrote the script around Chaudhry Hashmat, played by Mehboob Alam, whose grandsons compete to become his heir. The cast included Abid Ali, Munawar Saeed, Uzma Gillani, and Firdous Jamal.
Famous PTV Dramas of the 1980s
The 8 dramas below aired between 1982 and 1989, the densest decade for PTV classics.
10. Ankahi (1982)
Ankahi is a 1982 comedy serial written by Haseena Moin and directed by Shoaib Mansoor. Shehnaz Sheikh played Sana Murad, with Shakeel and Javed Sheikh in supporting roles. The serial holds cult-classic status for its dialogue.
11. Sona Chandi (1982)
Sona Chandi is a comedy serial written by Munnu Bhai and directed by Rashid Dar, released on PTV in 1982. Hamid Rana played Sona and Sheeba played Chandi, a couple who move to the city for work to pay off a debt.
12. Samundar (1983)
Samundar is a 1983 serial from the PTV Lahore centre, written by Amjad Islam Amjad and directed by Yawar Hayat and Qasim Jalali.
13. Aangan Terha (1984)
Aangan Terha is a satirical serial written by Anwar Maqsood and directed by Qaiser Farooq, aired on PTV from 1984 to March 1985. The cast included Salim Nasir, Bushra Ansari, Shakeel, Arshad Mehmood, and Durdana Butt.
14. Andhera Ujala (1984)
Andhera Ujala is a crime investigation series written by Younis Javed and directed by Rashid Dar, aired on PTV in 1984 and 1985. The cast included Qavi Khan, Irfan Khoosat, and Jamil Fakhri.
15. Tanhaiyaan (1985)
Tanhaiyaan is a 1985 serial written by Haseena Moin and directed by Shahzad Khalil. Shehnaz Sheikh and Marina Khan played two sisters who rebuild their lives and run a business after their parents die in an accident. Asif Raza Mir and Behroze Sabzwari completed the lead cast. A sequel, Tanhaiyan: Naye Silsilay, aired in 2012.
16. Dhoop Kinare (1987)
Dhoop Kinare is a 1987 serial about doctors in a Karachi hospital, written by Haseena Moin and directed by Sahira Kazmi. Rahat Kazmi played Dr Ahmer Ansari and Marina Khan played Dr Zoya Ali Khan.
17. Jangloos (1989)
Jangloos is a 1989 PTV serial based on Shaukat Siddiqui’s crime novel of the same name, directed by Kazim Pasha. The serial adapted only the first volume of the novel and starred M. Warsi as Lali and Shabbir Jan as Raheem Dad.
Classic Pakistani Dramas of the 1990s
The 7 dramas below added action, fantasy, and sitcom formats to Pakistani television in the 1990s.
18. Sunehray Din (1991)
Sunehray Din is a 1991 series about cadets at the Pakistan Military Academy, produced and directed by Shoaib Mansoor with ISPR co-production. Saleem Sheikh led the cast.
19. Marvi (1993)
Marvi is a 1993 PTV serial written by Noorul Huda Shah and directed by Sultana Siddiqui. The story modernizes the Sindhi folk tale Umar Marvi, with Ghazal Siddique in the title role. Mahnoor Baloch made her acting debut in a supporting role.
20. Ainak Wala Jin (1993)
Ainak Wala Jin is a children’s series that PTV Lahore broadcast from 1993 to 1996, written by A. Hameed and directed by Hafeez Tahir. A genie with weak eyesight arrives from the Caucasus Mountains, and characters such as Zakoota Jin and Bill Batori became household names. PTV repeated the series from 2005 to 2008 on public demand.
21. Dhuwan (1994)
Dhuwan is a 1994 action serial written by Ashir Azeem and directed by Sajjad Ahmed. Five friends form a volunteer commando team that fights crime in Quetta. Azeem, a civil services officer at the time, also played the lead role.
22. Chand Grehan (1995)
Chand Grehan is a 1995 serial written by Asghar Nadeem Syed and directed by Tajdar Alam, aired on the Shalimar Television Network (STN). Huma Nawab and Ayaz Naik played leads separated by class differences.
23. Family Front (1997)
Family Front is a 1997 sitcom written by Younis Butt and directed by Waseem Abbas, broadcast on PTV World.
24. Alpha Bravo Charlie (1998)
Alpha Bravo Charlie is a 1998 series produced with ISPR and directed by Shoaib Mansoor, a sequel to Sunehray Din. The story follows three army officers, played by Qasim Khan, Abdullah Mahmood, and Faraz Inam. The series ran on PTV from May to July 1998 and set television rating records in Pakistan.
Classic Dramas of the Early 2000s
25. Landa Bazar (2002)
Landa Bazar is a 2002 serial written by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar and directed by Dilawar Malik. The serial aired on STN’s Prime Entertainment from April 2002 into 2003.
Where to Watch Old Pakistani Dramas
Old Pakistani dramas are available on PTV’s official YouTube channels. PTVFlix Official hosts the classic PTV archive, and PTV Home uploads restored serials. Episodes of Taleem-e-Balighan, Alif Noon, Fifty Fifty, Waris, Sona Chandi, Samundar, and Dhuwan are available on YouTube as of 2026. Overseas viewers form a large part of this audience, and the cultural reach of PTV serials across the region is covered in the article on Pakistan’s relation with Bangladesh.
FAQs About Old Pakistani Dramas
Which is the oldest Pakistani drama?
Taleem-e-Balighan is the oldest, written by Khwaja Moinuddin in 1956 and telecast on PTV in 1966. Khuda Ki Basti (1969) ranks among the oldest full serials.
Who wrote the most classic PTV dramas?
Haseena Moin wrote Ankahi, Tanhaiyaan, Dhoop Kinare, Parchaiyan, Uncle Urfi, and Kiran Kahani. Anwar Maqsood, Amjad Islam Amjad, Munnu Bhai, and Shaukat Siddiqui wrote other major classics.
Where can I watch old PTV dramas online?
PTVFlix Official and PTV Home, the official PTV channels on YouTube, host the classic archive. Episodes of Waris, Sona Chandi, Dhuwan, and Fifty Fifty are available there as of 2026.
Which was the first Pakistani drama in colour?
Parchaiyan (1976) was the first Pakistani drama series in colour. Haseena Moin adapted the 13 episodes from Henry James’s novel The Portrait of a Lady.
Which old Pakistani dramas cover the Pakistan Army?
Sunehray Din (1991) and Alpha Bravo Charlie (1998) cover army life. Shoaib Mansoor directed both with ISPR support, and Alpha Bravo Charlie is a sequel to Sunehray Din.
Last Thoughts on Old Pakistani Dramas
Old Pakistani dramas document five decades of social life, from Taleem-e-Balighan in 1956 to Landa Bazar in 2002. The 25 serials in this list share three traits: named writers with literary backgrounds, single-channel national audiences, and scripts that still circulate on official archives. Readers who want the national background behind these serials can start with the overview of Pakistan, its history, and its provinces.
