Eid Al-Adha 2024: Pakistani TV channels to air special programming during three-day holiday

The combination of photos shows posters of special programs scheduled for transmission on Pakistani TV channels on Eid Al-Adha 2024 holidays. (Photo courtesy: ARY Digital/Instagram)
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Updated 16 June 2024
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Eid Al-Adha 2024: Pakistani TV channels to air special programming during three-day holiday

  • Television remains a major source of entertainment despite increase in the number of film productions
  • TV channels will air telefilms on Eid featuring artists like Ahsan Khan, Feroze Khan and Arsalan Naseer

KARACHI: As Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate Eid Al-Adha, marking the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah, Pakistani television channels are planning to air some fun content for viewers’ consumption during the three-day holiday announced by the government beginning next week.
Television remains a major source of entertainment for most Pakistanis, especially during Eid and other national holidays, with drama serials and game shows being far more accessible than film productions. This holds true despite the recent increase in the number and special launches of film productions.
Arab News has compiled a list of at least six new telefilms making their way to the small screen to entertain people celebrating Eid.

Tere Naam Ka Tattoo




A poster of the TV show "Tere Naam Ka Tattoo" scheduled for transmission on Pakistani TV channel ARY Digital on Eid Al-Adha 2024 holidays.(Photo courtesy: ARY Digital/Instagram)

Content creator turned actor Arslan Naseer, who is making waves with his character in the ongoing drama ‘Radd,’ and new-age actress Sahar Hashmi will be starring in the Eid special telefilm ‘Tere Naam Ka Tattoo.’
It’s a romantic comedy, according to Naseer, who plays the role of the male protagonist Ahsan.
“He is a hopeless romantic who is in denial of his breakup,” Naseer told Arab News while explaining his character in the production.
Written by Hasan Inam, the telefilm is directed by Muhammad Iftikhar Iffi.
Naseer said it was a story of two individuals going through a rough patch who eventually find comfort in each other after being betrayed by their former love interests.
“Tere Naam Ka Tattoo is a fresh story,” he added. “It’s not our typical Bakra Eid content. It features a fresh onscreen couple and should be fun to watch.”

Pyaar Tou Warh Gaya




A screengrab from the TV show "Pyaar Tou Warh Gaya" scheduled for transmission on Pakistani TV channel Geo TV on Eid Al-Adha 2024 holidays.(Photo courtesy: Har Pal Geo/Instagram)

The Ahsan Khan and Amar Khan-starrer ‘Pyaar Tou Warh Gaya’ is described as a “very fun, Eid entertainer,” according to Amar.
Amar plays the female lead opposite Khan, who has a double role in the telefilm. He is the husband of the female lead while also disguising as a woman as his second avatar.
Amar plays the role of Khan’s naive wife who wants to know everything. However, she said, she gets puzzled when she learns the truth.
“The audience’s response to the first teaser of the telefilm has been really interesting,” she told Arab News. “Some people are comparing it to ‘dream girl.’“
“Viewers must watch it for fits of laughter this Eid Al-Adha,” she continued, adding the cast included Sidra Niazi, Behroze Sabzwari, and Adnan Jaffer, in addition to herself and Khan.
Written by debutant Shakeel Arsalan, it has been directed by Ali Faizan.

Jodi Ban Gayi




A screengrab from the TV show "Jodi Ban Gayi" scheduled for transmission on Pakistani TV channel Geo TV on Eid Al-Adha 2024 holidays.(Photo courtesy: Har Pal Geo/Instagram)

The Feroze Khan and Sehar Khan-starrer telefilm ‘Jodi Ban Gayi’ will also hit the small screen this Eid Al-Adha. Airing on the first day of Eid, the telefilm offers a fresh pair in never-seen-before characters.
“This is the most exciting aspect of the telefilm,” director Syed Ramish Rizvi said in a conversation with Arab News.
“It’s a romantic comedy that highlights there is no right age for marriage as long the mindset of two individuals align,” he added.
The cast includes Saba Faisal and Mehmood Akhtar in key roles.
“The storytelling and cast are the highlight of the project,” Rizvi said. “Feroze Khan hasn’t done a light-hearted character like this before.”

Tamanna Ki Aarzu




A poster of the TV show "Tamanna Ki Aarzu" scheduled for transmission on Pakistani TV channel ARY Digital on Eid Al-Adha 2024 holidays.(Photo courtesy: ARY Digital/Instagram)

Muneeb Butt and Madiha Imam are coming together for an Eid Al-Adha telefilm, titled ‘Tamanna Ki Aarzu.’
“It’s a 40-minute comedy tele-play that revolves around the theme of property,” Imam told Arab News.
The story, according to her, highlights how women feel insecure in financial terms after their marriage.
Imam plays the role of an unconventional woman who is straightforward and vocal against injustices.
“She is more of a tomboy,” she said.
“It’s a comic, light-hearted play that will make viewers reflect on many things,” Imam continued. “It has a very subliminal, quiet message in it. It also promises a good time with friends and family this Eid Al-Adha.”

Wo Saat Din




A poster of the TV show "Wo Saat Din" scheduled for transmission on Pakistani TV channel Hum TV Pakistan on Eid Al-Adha 2024 holidays.(Photo courtesy: Hum TV Pakistan/Instagram)

The telefilm titled ‘Wo Saat Din,’ starring Usama Khan and Alizeh Shah in lead roles, will hit television screens on the third day of Eid.
It has an ensemble cast including Samina Ahmed and Fazila Qazi while it is written by Saima Akram Chaudhry of ‘Suno Chanda’ fame.
Chaudhry described the story as one in which a woman tries to keep relationships intact.
“There is a budding love story amidst the situation that becomes life-changing for the families involved,” Chaudhry told Arab News.
Khan, who plays the male protagonist in the telefilm, shared it was signature Saima Akram Chaudhry’s family-oriented play.
“Still, it has a unique story which will be entertaining to watch for viewers on Eid Al-Adha,” he said.

Love Hai Mushkil




A poster of the TV show "Love Hai Mushkil" scheduled for transmission on Pakistani TV channel ARY Digital on Eid Al-Adha 2024 holidays.(Photo courtesy: ARY Digital/Instagram)

‘Love Hai Mushkil’ is described as a “fun, Eid special telefilm,” according to the official Instagram handle of the channel airing it on Eid.
It features Ali Rehman Khan and Mah-e-Nur Haider in lead roles, alongside Hina Bayat and Javed Sheikh. Written by Misbah Ali Syed, Love Hai Mushkil is directed by Kashif Saleem.
Going by the teaser, it seems to be a conventional romantic comedy in which hate between the guy and the girl turns into lasting love. The two individuals who constantly fight and express dislike toward one another eventually fall in love.


Authorities start dismantling bunkers in clashes-hit northwestern Pakistani district

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Authorities start dismantling bunkers in clashes-hit northwestern Pakistani district

  • Tribal and sectarian clashes since Nov. 21 have killed at least 136 people in Kurram, causing medicine, food and fuel shortages
  • On Jan. 1, warring sides agreed on the demolition of bunkers and handover of heavy weapons to authorities under a peace agreement

PESHAWAR: Authorities in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province have started dismantling bunkers built by rival tribes in the Kurram district, which has been hit by deadly clashes in the last two months, an official said on Monday.
Kurram, a northwestern district of around 600,000 people in KP, has been rocked by tribal and sectarian clashes since November 21, when armed men attacked a convoy of Shia passengers, killing 52 people.
The attack sparked further violence and blockade of a main road connecting Kurram’s main town of Parachinar with the provincial capital of Peshawar, causing medicine, food and fuel shortages in the area, as casualties surged to 136.
Authorities last week issued a notification regarding dismantling of the bunkers in Lower Kurram, more than a week after a council of tribal and political elders brokered a peace deal between the two sides.
“One bunker each has been demolished in Balishkhel and Khar Kali area of Lower Kurram and arrangements for the demolition of the rest are being made,” Lower Kurram Assistant Commissioner Hafeez-ur-Rehman told Arab News over the phone.
“The bunkers are being dismantled using explosives, under the supervision of the district administration.”
Under the peace agreement signed on Jan. 1, both sides agreed on the demolition of bunkers and the handover of heavy weapons to authorities within two weeks.
Any party that launches an attack after the signing of the deal will be considered a “terrorist” and action will be taken against it. A fine of Rs10 million ($35,933) will be imposed on those who violate the terms of the deal by using weapons against each other, according to the peace agreement.
Land disputes in the volatile district will be settled on a priority basis with the cooperation of local tribes and the district administration. Opening of banned outfits’ offices will be prohibited in the district, while social media accounts spreading hate will be discouraged via collective efforts backed by the government.
The decisions were made by the KP apex committee, which comprises civilian and military leadership in the province.
Muhammad Ali Saif, a spokesperson for the KP government, confirmed the start of a drive to demolish all such structures in the volatile district.
“All bunkers will be dismantled in light of the apex committee decision and the peace agreement,” he said, adding that it was essential to restore peace in the area.
However, a shortage of food and medicines persists in the district and provincial authorities have been supplying relief goods and transporting ailing and injured people from Kurram to Peshawar via helicopters.


Pakistani forces kill 27 militants in insurgency-hit Balochistan province

Updated 49 min 9 sec ago
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Pakistani forces kill 27 militants in insurgency-hit Balochistan province

  • Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by landmass and rich in mineral resources, has been the site of a low-level insurgency by Baloch separatists
  • Separatist militants last week seized Zehri town in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district, setting government property on fire and robbing Rs768,000 from a bank

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed 27 militants in the southwestern Balochistan province, the military said on Monday, in the latest incident in the insurgency-hit region.
The militants were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Kacchi district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
The deceased had been involved in militant activities against security forces as well as innocent civilians and were “highly wanted” by the law enforcement agencies.
“Multiple hideouts, including caches of arms, ammunition and explosives, were also destroyed during the operation,” the ISPR said in a statement.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by landmass and rich in mineral resources, has long faced a low-level insurgency led by separatist groups, who accuse Islamabad of exploiting the province’s natural resources, such as gold and copper, while neglecting the local population.
Successive Pakistani governments have denied the allegations, saying they prioritized Balochistan’s development through investments in health, education and infrastructure projects.
On Monday, a roadside bomb blast killed one person in Balochistan’s Turbat district, while dozens of ethnic Baloch separatists last week entered Zehri town in the Khuzdar district and seized control of its main market, setting government properties on fire and robbing Rs768,000 ($2,745) from a private bank.
Footage and pictures seen by Arab News showed armed fighters roaming the streets of the town after seizing weapons, vehicles and motorbikes from the Levies paramilitary force. The outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) separatist group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security forces reclaimed the town following skirmishes with the militants, during which one soldier was injured. Provincial authorities later sacked 15 Levies personnel for showing “cowardice” by surrendering to armed militants, according to a government notification.
Violence by Baloch separatist factions, primarily the BLA, killed about 300 people last year, according to official statistics, marking an escalation in the decades-long conflict.


Pakistan, Bangladesh vow to strengthen trade ties, consular services

Updated 54 min 8 sec ago
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Pakistan, Bangladesh vow to strengthen trade ties, consular services

  • Pakistan and Bangladesh have sought to improve bilateral ties since former premier Hasina’s ouster
  • Established together as one nation in 1947, Bangladesh won liberation from Pakistan in 1971 with India backingEstablished together as one nation in 1947, Bangladesh won liberation from Pakistan in 1971 with India backing

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad and Dhaka have vowed to strengthen ties, particularly in trade and consular services, the Pakistan embassy said on Monday after the consul general of Bangladesh in Dubai paid a courtesy call on his counterpart from Pakistan. 

Pakistan and Bangladesh share a complex history, having been a single country known as East and West Pakistan until Bangladesh was born in 1971 after a war of liberation backed by Pakistan’s arch-rival and neighbor India. Nearly three million people were killed in the conflict.

Ties reached a new low in 2016 when Bangladesh executed several leaders of its Jamaat-e-Islami party on charges of committing war crimes in 1971. Pakistan called the executions and trials “politically motivated,” arguing that the convicts were being punished for taking a pro-Pakistan stance during the war. 

However, Islamabad’s ties with Dhaka improved after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted last year after student-led violent protests in the country. Hasina fled to India, which has cast a shadow over the relationship between Dhaka and New Delhi in recent months, with the former repeatedly demanding that India extradite the ousted leader.

“H.E. Md. Rashedujjaman, Consul General of Bangladesh in Dubai paid a courtesy call on H.E. Hussain Muhammad, Consul General of Pakistan, at the Consulate General of Pakistan today [Monday],” the Pakistani consulate said in a statement. 

“Welcoming the visiting Consul General, Mr. Hussain emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan, particularly in trade. Both Consuls General acknowledged the potential for collaboration and agreed to engage their respective consulates’ trade sections to further promote bilateral cooperation.”

Both sides also discussed various consular services including passport issuance, national identity cards, and visa procedures.

“Both Consuls General agreed to enhance information sharing and future collaboration regarding community services and public awareness initiatives,” the statement said.


Pakistan voices concern over recent ‘Islamophobic’ remarks against British-Pakistanis in UK

Updated 13 January 2025
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Pakistan voices concern over recent ‘Islamophobic’ remarks against British-Pakistanis in UK

  • The development comes amid a debate around child sexual abuse in the UK, with an inquiry report accusing some Pakistani origin men of involvement
  • Islamabad says such remarks are aimed at ‘conflating’ reprehensible actions of a few individuals with the entire 1.7 million British-Pakistani diaspora

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Monday expressed “deep concern” over a recent spate of “Islamophobic” remarks directed toward the Pakistani community in the United Kingdom (UK), saying they were aimed at “conflating” reprehensible actions of a few individuals with the entire 1.7 million British-Pakistani diaspora.
The development comes amid a debate around grooming gangs in the UK after British Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips rejected Oldham Council’s request for a government-led inquiry into a historical child sexual abuse scandal in the town in favor of a local investigation. The grooming scandal, which came to light in the 2010s, involved the systematic abuse of thousands of girls in towns such as Rotherham, Rochdale and Oldham. A 2014 report estimated that 1,400 children were exploited in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013, primarily by men of Pakistani origin.
Indian nationalist lawmaker Priyanka Chaturvedi this month sparked the controversy by stating that the blame for grooming gangs in the UK should not be attributed to Asia as a whole, but rather to one “rogue nation.” Tech billionaire Elon Musk also endorsed the anti-Pakistan narrative on X and criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for rejecting calls for a new national inquiry and instead advocating the implementation of recommendations of an earlier seven-year inquiry.
In its response to media queries about the controversy, the Pakistani Foreign Office said British nationals of Pakistani origin had a rich history of contributing to the UK’s growth, development and, indeed, freedom, with an “exceptionally large” number of predominantly Muslim soldiers from what is now Pakistan serving in the British Indian army and laying down their lives in both World Wars.
“We note with deep concern the increasingly racist and Islamophobic political and media commentary in the UK that is aimed at conflating the reprehensible actions of a few individuals with the entire 1.7 million British Pakistani diaspora,” it said in a statement.
The Foreign Office said that the Pakistan-UK friendship is characterized by warmth, cordiality, robust cooperation and trust, noting that British-Pakistanis formed the “backbone of the UK’s health, retail and services sectors.”
“Many British Pakistanis hold high public office, and thousands serve their communities as Members of Parliament, mayors, councillors, and as members of local police and municipal services. British Pakistanis have excelled in sports and arts. Their cuisine and music enriches British culture,” it said.
“To demonize such a large and diverse community on the basis of the actions of a few individuals needs to be condemned.”
It said the multifaceted Pakistan-UK relations cover important areas, including trade and investment, education, security and counter-terrorism, and the presence of 1.7 million strong British-Pakistani diaspora provides the strongest link between the two friendly countries.


Pakistan’s Bank Alfalah acquires nearly 10 percent stake in UAE fintech Jingle Pay

Updated 13 January 2025
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Pakistan’s Bank Alfalah acquires nearly 10 percent stake in UAE fintech Jingle Pay

  • Jingle Pay plans to launch its digital banking services in Pakistan in the first quarter of 2025 as a branchless banking mobile app
  • Only 60 percent of Pakistan’s 137 million adult population, or 83 million adults, have a bank account, according to central bank estimates

ISLAMABAD: Bank Alfalah, a leading Pakistani commercial bank, on Monday announced it had acquired 9.9 percent equity stake in Dubai-based fintech firm Jingle Pay, underscoring the bank’s commitment to driving digital transformation and fostering financial inclusion in Pakistan and across other markets.
With over 1,000 branches across 200 cities and an international presence in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Afghanistan, Bank Alfalah offers various products and services to private-sector institutions and governments, and has established itself as a premier digital bank.
Jingle Pay, on the other hand, has redefined the fintech space with its proprietary AI-powered tech stack already processing over 2 million transactions and facilitating over $1 billion in international money transfers in 2024, saving customers over $6 million in fees. It was recently awarded the top global fintech for remittances into Pakistan.
Bank Alfalah said its equity investment and appointment to Jingle Pay’s board signal a robust partnership aimed at driving growth and innovation, and the collaboration leverages its extensive infrastructure to amplify Jingle Pay’s impact on cross-border payments and digital banking, advancing its ambitious vision for the Middle East and North Africa and Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAP) region.
“This acquisition is a milestone in our journey to lead the digital banking revolution,” said Farooq A. Khan, Bank Alfalah’s group head for corporate, investment banking and international business.
“By combining Jingle Pay’s innovative platform with Bank Alfalah’s resources, we aim to redefine cross-border financial services and deliver exceptional value to millions of users.”
Pakistan, with a population of 240 million, is home to one of the world’s largest unbanked populations. Only 60 percent of its 137 million adult population, or 83 million adults, have a bank account, according to central bank estimates.
Jingle Pay plans to launch its digital banking services in Pakistan in the first quarter of 2025 as a branchless banking mobile app targeting to bring seamless and inclusive financial services to the country’s unbanked population.
The partnership aims to create synergies in cross-border payments strengthened by shareholder MoneyGram.
“Partnering with Bank Alfalah empowers us to scale our vision of inclusive finance,” Jingle Pay Chief Executive Officer Amir Fardghassemi was quoted as saying by Bank Alfalah.
“Together, we aim to enrich the digital economy and create transformative cross-border financial solutions.”