Popular PTV drama Dhoop Kinare to air in Saudi Arabia

KARACHI: Pakistan's state television has said that one of its most popular drama series would air in Saudi Arabia later this year, more than 30 years after it was first broadcast in Pakistan.

Dhoop Kinare, a 1987 drama that became one of the networks most popular television series ever, is set to be aired with Arabic subtitles in the Kingdom in June, a top PTV official told Arab News on Wednesday.

The classic show will be one of two television series to be broadcast in the Muslim Kingdom.

"We have selected two very popular dramas, Dhoop Kinare (Sunlight's Edge) and Tanhaiyaan (Loneliness), for Arabic subtitles," said Shahzia Sikander, Director International Relations at PTV.

"We will be able to send Dhoop Kinare to Saudi Arabia by June this year."

Written and directed by Haseena Moin and Sahira Kazmi— two of the most acclaimed women in the Pakistani television industry—Dhoop Kinarey is still considered by many as one of the best Pakistani dramas of all time.

The fast-paced drama, which followed the story of two doctors working together at a Karachi hospital, led its main actors Marina Khan and Rahat Kazmi to become household names and a favorite on-screen couple in Pakistan.

The other TV show, Tanhaiyaan from 1986, is also considered a household favourite in Pakistan. The drama was also written by Haseena Moin and also starred Marina Khan.

"This is the first time that Pakistan Television is subtitling Pakistani drama into Arabic for Saudi viewers," added Sikander, saying the move would not only be a source of revenue but would also bring recognition for local television series and actors and help Saudi nationals understand Pakistani culture.

The news comes after federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry announced during a visit to the Saudi capital of Riyadh that Islamabad would soon export its television series to the Kingdom.

Arab News said the move is part of a push by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the last three years to modernise the Kingdom where cinemas, public concerts and other forms of entertainment have been banned for decades.