Pakistani Drama Suggestions: How This List Works
Ask ten people for the best Pakistani dramas of all time and you will get ten lists, but some titles turn up on almost all of them. This guide brings those together: classic serials from Pakistan Television, the private-channel hits of the 2000s and 2010s, and the modern blockbusters that now draw global audiences on YouTube.
The first ten entries follow the order our editor set: Dhoop Kinare, Tanhaiyan, Ankahi, Dhuwan, Alpha Bravo Charlie, Raahein, Pyarey Afzal, Parizaad, Humsafar and Ishq Murshid. Seventeen more widely acclaimed dramas follow, making a list of 27. The numbering is a reading order, not a ranking. Below the quick list, the dramas are grouped by era, keeping the same numbers.
Credits come from the broadcasters' own channels and websites (PTV, HUM, Geo, ARY), from Dawn, Images Dawn, The Express Tribune, The News and ARY News, and IMDb was used only to cross-check them. Where a credit, character name or episode count could not be confirmed, we left it out rather than guess. View counts are from the official YouTube uploads as of 1 October 2026.
Old PTV Dramas: The Best Classic PTV Dramas (1979–1999)
The state broadcaster had the country to itself for most of these years, and these serials still define the golden age. Most are now free on PTV Digital's official YouTube channel.
1. Dhoop Kinare — 1987, PTV (Karachi)
Set largely inside a hospital, Haseena Moin's 1987 serial pairs two doctors who could hardly be less alike. Marina Khan's Dr Zoya is a young doctor who laughs easily, adores her child patients and will not be talked down to. Rahat Kazmi's Dr Ahmer Ansari is reserved, principled and slow to let anyone in. Their arguments on the ward turn, over thirteen unhurried episodes, into one of the gentlest love stories PTV ever put on air, and Sahira Kazmi's direction is happy to let a glance do the work of a speech.
Zoya is the reason people still rewatch it. Retrospectives in Dawn and The Express Tribune recall how her short hair and carefree manner made Marina Khan a style reference for young women, and Dawn has written about roads emptying when the play was on. Sajid Hasan, who played Dr Irfan, has spoken to Dawn about the part. A late development involving an old man's will (a mild spoiler) gives the final stretch some extra weight without breaking the light tone. At thirteen episodes there is no padding at all, which makes Dhoop Kinare an easy first stop for anyone curious about old PTV dramas.
Dhoop Kinare cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Marina Khan | Dr Zoya Ali Khan |
| Rahat Kazmi | Dr Ahmer Ansari |
| Sajid Hasan | Dr Irfan |
| Kehkashan Awan | Anji |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: Dawn, 4 April 2021 (Marina Khan and Sajid Hasan on Dhoop Kinare); Dawn (Dhoop Kinare retrospective); The Express Tribune, 14 August 2015: Timeless talent; PTV Digital: Dhoop Kinare Episode 1
2. Tanhaiyan — 1986, PTV
Two sisters lose their parents in a car accident, lose the family house to their father's debts and move in with their aunt Aani in Karachi. That is a bleak opening for what turns out to be one of the warmest comedies of the 1980s. Shehnaz Sheikh plays Zara, the elder sister, who decides the way back to her father's house runs through business rather than marriage, and who pays for that single-mindedness with the people closest to her.
Marina Khan made her television debut here as Sanya, the mischievous younger sister, and her running battle with Behroze Sabzwari's Qutbuddin, whom she nicknames "Qabacha", is the comic heart of the serial. Jamshed Ansari's Buqrat added the line "Zindagi ik muamma hai, jiska hal kahin kho chuka hai", written for him by Haseena Moin. Looking back in 2021, The Express Tribune argued that Moin's women (Zara, Sanya, Aani and Vida) were allowed to grow and stand on their own in a way modern serials rarely manage. Shehzad Khalil directed. Watched now, Tanhaiyan feels less like a period piece than a quiet argument that a woman's ambition can drive the plot.
Tanhaiyan drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Shehnaz Sheikh | Zara |
| Marina Khan | Sanya |
| Asif Raza Mir | Zain |
| Badar Khalil | Aani |
| Behroze Sabzwari | Qutbuddin (Qabacha) |
| Jamshed Ansari | Buqrat |
| Durdana Butt | Bibi |
| Yasmeen Ismail | Vida |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: The Express Tribune, 10 April 2021: What would Haseena Moin's Tanhaiyan look like today?; Dawn, 4 April 2021 (Marina Khan's debut in Tanhaiyaan); PTV Digital: Tanhaiyaan Episode 1
3. Ankahi — 1982, PTV
Office comedies are rare on Pakistani television, and Ankahi is the one every later attempt gets measured against. After her father's early death, Sana Murad (Shehnaz Sheikh) needs a salary, lands an office job she is not remotely qualified for and makes a string of blunders that somehow endear her to everyone. Shakeel plays the composed Taimur Ahmad, while Jawed Sheikh's confident Faraz Aafreedi falls for her. Behind the laughs sits a quieter subject the title hints at: love that goes unsaid.
The supporting cast is where the serial becomes a pleasure. Jamshed Ansari's Timmy and Behroze Sabzwari's Moby get many of the best lines, and Jawed Sheikh told Dawn that Ankahi's dialogues made him a star. Dawn has also called it one of the most watched PTV plays on the internet. In 2020 Dawn reported plans for a stage adaptation at the Arts Council in Karachi, with Amna Ilyas cast as Sana. For anyone sampling the best PTV classics, this is the lightest and quickest way in.
Ankahi drama cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Shehnaz Sheikh | Sana Murad |
| Shakeel | Taimur Ahmad |
| Jawed Sheikh | Faraz Aafreedi |
| Jamshed Ansari | Tameez ud Din (Timmy) |
| Badar Khalil | Zakia Begum |
| Behroze Sabzwari | Moby |
| Salim Nasir | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: Dawn, 27 March 2021 (Ankahi and Salim Nasir); Dawn, 4 April 2021 (Jawed Sheikh and Behroze Sabzwari on Ankahi); Dawn, 7 February 2020 (Ankahi stage adaptation); PTV Digital: Ankahi Episode 1
4. Dhuwan — 1994, PTV
PTV's grittiest action drama of the 1990s began life as a novel. Ashir Azeem drafted Dhuwan during his time at the Civil Services Academy, then wrote and starred in the television version, directed by Sajjad Ahmed. The premise is simple and still gripping: five friends form a police commando unit and take on crime in and around Quetta, working as vigilantes outside the usual chain of command.
What set Dhuwan apart was its texture. ARY News, revisiting the cast in 2017, noted how the serial was praised for its realistic action at a time when Pakistani television rarely attempted action at all, and reported a widely held belief that it drew young viewers towards careers in the police. Nayyar Ejaz, Nazli Nasr, Asal Din Khan and Zubair Khan Achakzai filled out a team that felt like a real squad rather than a hero and his sidekicks. It showed that the state channel could do a thriller as well as a family drama. We could not find an official PTV upload, so no watch link is given here.
Dhuwan drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Ashir Azeem | — |
| Nazli Nasr | — |
| Asal Din Khan | — |
| Zubair Khan Achakzai | — |
| Nabeel | — |
| Nayyar Ejaz | — |
| Azra Aftab | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: ARY News, 4 July 2017: Old but not forgotten, Dhuwan drama cast now
5. Alpha Bravo Charlie — 1998, PTV (with ISPR)
Three young officers, one Mercedes and a helicopter stunt: Alpha Bravo Charlie is the late-1990s PTV serial that made army life look like the best adventure going. Shoaib Mansoor made it with ISPR, and the friendship between Faraz Inam's easy-going Faraz, Abdullah Mehmood's daredevil Kashif Kirmani and Qasim Khan's steady Gulsher Khan drives every episode. Shahnaaz Khawaja's Shahnaaz, a teacher of special children and Kashif's cousin, is the voice of sense among them.
The production went where Pakistani television had not gone before. The News has described shoots in the northern areas, including Siachen, and in Bosnia, where Gulsher is posted. The same report noted that Faraz Inam played a character called Faraz in Sunehray Din, Alpha Bravo Charlie and, decades later, Ehd-e-Wafa, which makes him the only actor to carry one role across three serials. Spoiler: The News recalls that audiences could not forgive Shoaib Mansoor for Gulsher's death late in the story. We found the serial only on channels we could not confirm as official, so there is no watch link here.
Alpha Bravo Charlie cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Faraz Inam | Faraz Ahmed |
| Qasim Khan | Gulsher Khan |
| Abdullah Mehmood | Kashif Kirmani |
| Shahnaaz Khawaja | Shahnaaz Sher |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: The News on Sunday, 6 September 2020: Television's national pride; The Express Tribune, 14 August 2015: Timeless talent
6. Raahein (Rahain) — 1998–99, PTV (Lahore)
The drama listed by many viewers as "Raahein" is PTV Lahore's Rahain, written by the Punjabi and Urdu fiction writer Mansha Yaad and directed by Tariq Jameel. The Express Tribune's obituary of Mansha Yaad in 2011 singled it out as his memorable PTV serial, based on his award-winning Punjabi novel Tanwan Tanwan Tara. PTV Digital dates it to 1998; some other listings give 1999.
Rahain is the least glamorous drama on this list and possibly the most honest. Its Punjab is a place of feudal pressure, injustice and illiteracy. The stories braid together: a student caught between his village and the city, a kabaddi player who loses his leg, and a young woman whose life falls apart after she leaves home. Tauqeer Nasir's Jura Bhatti and Saleem Sheikh's Khalid are at the centre, but the serial belongs to its crowd of village characters. It also seems to have found a new audience online: the first episode on PTV Digital had about 1.5 million views as of 1 October 2026, the highest of the PTV-era episodes we checked.
Rahain PTV drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Tauqeer Nasir | Jura Bhatti |
| Saleem Sheikh | Khalid |
| Ghayyur Akhtar | Chaudhary Akbar |
| Masood Akhtar | Malik Murad Ali |
| Naseem Vicky | Falak Sher |
| Habib | Wakeel Sahib |
| Riaz Mahmood | Hakeem |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: The Express Tribune, 16 October 2011: Obituary for Mansha Yaad; PTV Digital: Rahain Episode 1
11. Waris — 1979, PTV (Lahore)
Dawn tells a story about Waris that sums up its hold on the country in late 1979: airline pilots reportedly refused to go into the cockpit until they had seen the episode. Amjad Islam Amjad's serial is about Chaudhry Hashmat Khan, the feudal lord of Sikandarpur, whose ancestral land lies in the path of a government dam. He fights the state, and then, more bitterly, his own son and grandsons, as the question of who will inherit his power tears the family apart.
Mehboob Alam played Hashmat so completely that Dawn described him as branded for life by the role. Around him sits one of the strongest ensembles PTV ever assembled, including Abid Ali, Uzma Gilani, Munawwar Saeed, Firdous Jamal, Samina Ahmed and Shujaat Hashmi. It was a hit at home and abroad at a time when it had to compete with Amritsar TV signals and the new VCR. Waris rewards patience. Its politics are slow and its silences long, but the central clash between an old order and a changing country has hardly dated.
Waris drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Mehboob Alam | Chaudhry Hashmat Khan |
| Abid Ali | — |
| Uzma Gilani | — |
| Munawwar Saeed | — |
| Firdous Jamal | — |
| Samina Ahmed | — |
| Shujaat Hashmi | — |
| Aurangzeb Leghari | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: Dawn, 19 February 2023 (Amjad Islam Amjad and Waris); PTV Digital: Waris Episode 1
12. Sunehray Din — 1991, PTV (with ISPR)
Before Alpha Bravo Charlie there was Sunehray Din, the 1991 serial that turned army cadet life into prime-time viewing. Shoaib Mansoor wrote it and co-directed it with Mohsin Ali, ISPR produced it with PTV, and it became a hit straight after its first episode. It was shot on real military locations, which gave it a look that studio dramas of the time could not match.
The cast was almost entirely new. The News points out that it introduced Saleem Sheikh, Faraz Inam, Qasim Khan, Kiran and Aliya Kazmi to viewers, with Faraz Inam first seen as Faraz on a railway platform, a scene that became the start of a three-serial run for the character. The show more or less invented a genre. Later military dramas, from Alpha Bravo Charlie to Ehd-e-Wafa, borrowed its mix of barracks humour, rivalry and duty. The production values are modest by today's standards, but the energy of a young cast finding its feet comes through. ISPR Official has the serial on YouTube in parts.
Sunehray Din drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Faraz Inam | Faraz |
| Saleem Sheikh | — |
| Qasim Khan | — |
| Kiran | — |
| Aliya Kazmi | — |
| Hameed Waine | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: The News on Sunday, 6 September 2020: Television's national pride; ISPR Official: Sunehray Din Part 1
13. Andhera Ujala — mid-1980s, PTV (Lahore)
"Jaffer Hussain, yeh sab kya ho raha hai?" If that line rings a bell, Andhera Ujala probably played in your house. The PTV Lahore police series, written by Younis Javed and directed by Rashid Dar, followed a single station through a new case almost every week, from petty theft to organised crime. Qavi Khan's DSP Tahir Ali Khan and Rahat Kazmi's ASP Asad-ur-Rehman led the team, but it was the station's two middle rankers who stole the show.
Jamil Fakhri's Inspector Jaffer Hussain was tough and dogged; in one episode, Dawn recalled, he shoots his own son in the leg. Irfan Khoosat's bumbling Havaldar Karamdad supplied the comedy. Dawn has reported that real police officers saluted Qavi Khan and still treated the cast with respect years later. The series is a good reminder of how PTV mixed public-service messages with entertainment, and since each episode stands mostly on its own it is easy to dip into on PTV Digital.
Andhera Ujala cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Qavi Khan | DSP Tahir Ali Khan |
| Rahat Kazmi | ASP Asad-ur-Rehman |
| Jamil Fakhri | Inspector Jaffer Hussain |
| Irfan Khoosat | Havaldar Karamdad |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: Dawn, 18 June 2011 (Jamil Fakhri and Andhera Ujala); Dawn (Qavi Khan obituary); PTV Digital: Andhera Ujala Episode 1
2000s–2010s Hits: Must-Watch Pakistani Dramas from the Private Channel Era
Private channels such as HUM, Geo and ARY changed the pace and look of Pakistani drama. These are the serials from that boom that people still recommend first.
7. Pyarey Afzal — 2013, ARY Digital
Afzal is a maulvi's son who wants to become a "bara admi", and he falls for Farah, a girl from a far richer family. Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar's script turns that simple setup into a study of pride and class, and gives Afzal some of the most quoted lines of the 2010s, among them "Meri auqaat nahi hai ke mein Farah se muhabbat kar sakun, lekin us se muhabbat karne ka haq hai mujhe."
Hamza Ali Abbasi shot to stardom as Afzal, as Images Dawn put it when it ranked the serial among Pakistan's ten most iconic dramas. Ayeza Khan played Farah, and the pair's chemistry was strong enough that, a decade later, fans treated Jaan-e-Jahan as a second chance for them. At the 2015 Lux Style Awards the drama took best TV play, best actor, best actress, best director (Nadeem Baig) and best writer, a clean sweep of the main television categories. Spoiler: the ending is tragic, and many viewers have still not made peace with it. All 37 episodes are on ARY Plus.
Pyarey Afzal drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Hamza Ali Abbasi | Afzal |
| Ayeza Khan | Farah |
| Sana Javed | — |
| Firdous Jamal | — |
| Saba Hamid | — |
| Sohai Ali Abro | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: ARY Digital: Pyare Afzal, it's a love story; Images Dawn: 10 iconic Pakistani TV dramas; The Express Tribune, 27 May 2024 (Hamza and Ayeza, from Pyare Afzal to Jaan-e-Jahan); ARY Plus: Pyarey Afzal; ARY Digital: Pyare Afzal Episode 1
9. Humsafar — 2011, HUM TV
If one serial explains why the 2010s are remembered as a second golden age, it is Humsafar. Farhat Ishtiaq adapted her own novel about Khirad and her wealthy cousin Ashar, who are married in haste. A marriage that begins as a duty slowly becomes a real romance, and is then pulled apart by family expectations, misunderstanding and separation. Sarmad Sultan Khoosat's direction keeps the camera close and the music low, so the big confrontations, when they come, land hard.
Images Dawn credits the serial with launching Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to super-stardom, and it is hard to argue. Their pairing became the template for a decade of romantic leads. Naseer Turabi's lyrics for "Woh Humsafar Tha", sung by Qurat-ul-Ain Balouch, turned the OST into a hit of its own; HUM Music's upload had about 12.7 million views as of 1 October 2026. For anyone asking which is the best romantic Pakistani drama, this is the usual first answer. Read more on our Humsafar drama page.
Humsafar drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Fawad Khan | Ashar |
| Mahira Khan | Khirad |
| Naveen Waqar | — |
| Atiqa Odho | — |
| Hina Khawaja Bayat | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Full guide: Humsafar cast, story and OST.
Sources: Images Dawn: 10 iconic Pakistani TV dramas; HUM TV: Humsafar Episode 1; HUM TV: Humsafar Last Episode; HUM Music: Humsafar OST
Kashaf Murtaza is not an easy heroine to love, and that is the point. Raised by a single mother and worn down by class and gender bias, she is sharp, defensive and suspicious of anyone with money, which puts her on a collision course with Zaroon Junaid, a charming, privileged college classmate. Umera Ahmed's story follows them into marriage, and becomes as much about class and pride as about romance.
Sanam Saeed played Kashaf without softening her, and Fawad Khan's Zaroon is funny, spoiled and quietly decent. Sultana Siddiqui, HUM's founder, directed. Images Dawn notes that the drama became very popular in India when Zee Zindagi broadcast it. It ran for 26 episodes, and HUM's upload of the first had about 3 million views as of 1 October 2026. If you liked Humsafar and want something with more bite and less melodrama, this is the obvious next choice. Our Zindagi Gulzar Hai page has more on the cast.
Zindagi Gulzar Hai cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Sanam Saeed | Kashaf Murtaza |
| Fawad Khan | Zaroon Junaid |
| Samina Peerzada | — |
| Sheheryar Munawar | — |
| Mehreen Raheel | — |
| Ayesha Omar | — |
| Mansha Pasha | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Full guide: Zindagi Gulzar Hai cast, story and OST.
Sources: Images Dawn: 10 iconic Pakistani TV dramas; HUM TV: Zindagi Gulzar Hai Episode 1; HUM Music: Zindagi Gulzar Hai OST
15. Dastaan — 2010, HUM TV
Images Dawn put Dastaan at number one on its list of Pakistan's most iconic television dramas, and the choice is easy to understand. Adapted by Samira Fazal from Razia Butt's novel Bano and directed by Haissam Hussain, it follows Hassan and Bano, two young people in love on the eve of Partition, and what 1947 does to them. The first half is almost idyllic; the second is some of the most harrowing television HUM has aired.
Sanam Baloch gives Bano a quiet dignity that holds even in the serial's cruellest stretches, and Fawad Khan, a year before Humsafar, shows the restraint that later made him a star. Saba Qamar and Ahsan Khan lead a strong supporting cast. Sohail Haider sang and composed the soundtrack. It remains the best entry point for viewers who want to understand Partition through a family story rather than a history lesson. Expect to cry, and be warned that the violence is not softened.
Dastaan drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Fawad Khan | Hassan |
| Sanam Baloch | Bano |
| Saba Qamar | — |
| Ahsan Khan | — |
| Samina Peerzada | — |
| Saba Hameed | — |
| Mehreen Raheel | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: Images Dawn: 10 iconic Pakistani TV dramas; HUM TV: Dastaan Episode 1; HUM TV: Dastaan Last Episode 23; HUM Music: Dastaan OST
16. Sadqay Tumhare — 2014, HUM TV
Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar has rarely written anything as personal as Sadqay Tumhare. Its hero is called Khalil, its story draws on the writer's own experience of a failed first love, and its world is a village where Khalil and Shano have been engaged since childhood and everyone has an opinion about it. Mahira Khan, fresh from Humsafar, told The News she read the script and "flipped over it"; she also said she had never enjoyed saying her dialogues as much.
Adnan Malik made his television debut as Khalil. Writing two years later, he told The Express Tribune that the part made him shed his skin, and that he felt the weight of the writer's real heartbreak. The Lux Style Awards nominations announced in 2016 included the serial for best TV play, along with Adnan, Mahira, the writer and director Ehteshamuddin. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's OST gave the period setting its ache. Do not expect twists. This is a slow, affectionate and unapologetically nostalgic love story, best watched one episode at a time.
Sadqay Tumhare drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Mahira Khan | Shano |
| Adnan Malik | Khalil |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: The News (Instep), 5 October 2014: Mahira Khan, the unusual, shining star; The Express Tribune, 16 October 2016: Adnan Malik looks back at Sadqay Tumhare; The News: Deconstructing the LSA nominations; HUM TV: Sadqay Tumhare Episode 1; HUM TV: Sadqay Tumhare Last Episode 27
17. Udaari — 2016, HUM TV
Udaari is the drama on this list most likely to make you uncomfortable, and it was meant to. Farhat Ishtiaq's story takes on child sexual abuse: Samiya Mumtaz's Sajida marries Imtiaz, played with chilling ease by Ahsan Khan, and her young daughter Zebo becomes his victim. Bushra Ansari's Sheedan, Sajida's friend, gives the story its spine.
Five episodes in, PEMRA served HUM a show-cause notice over the content, and Momina Duraid publicly defended the decision to air it, The News reported. Images Dawn praised the handling of the theme and noted the Kashf Foundation's part in the story. There is light in it too: Urwa Hocane's Meera and Farhan Saeed's Arsh bring music and romance, and Hadiqa Kiani provides Meera's singing voice. Directed by Mohammed Ehteshamuddin, Udaari ran for 25 episodes; the enhanced first episode on HUM's channel had about 1.3 million views as of 1 October 2026. Watch it for a social message delivered without preaching, and for Ahsan Khan's unsettling turn as a villain.
Udaari drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Samiya Mumtaz | Sajida (Sajjo) |
| Bushra Ansari | Rasheeda (Sheedan) |
| Ahsan Khan | Imtiaz Ali Sheikh |
| Urwa Hocane | Meera Majid |
| Farhan Saeed | Taimoor Arshad (Arsh) |
| Hina Altaf | Zebo |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: Images Dawn, 22 June 2016 (Udaari review); HUM TV: Udaari Episode 1 (enhanced); HUM Music: Udaari OST
18. Mere Paas Tum Ho — 2019, ARY Digital
Few dramas of the last decade have divided opinion quite like Meray Paas Tum Ho. Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar's story is about Danish and Mehwish, an ordinary couple whose different needs and mindsets slowly drive them apart, as ARY puts it. When a far wealthier man offers Mehwish the life she wants, she leaves. What follows is a long, bitter study of pride and betrayal, written in the dialogue-heavy style the writer is known for.
Humayun Saeed and Ayeza Khan lead the cast, with Adnan Siddiqui and Hira Mani in support. The double-episode finale aired on 25 January 2020 and was screened at the same time in major cinemas, Images Dawn reported, and ARY's Jerjees Seja called it "Pakistan's most successful drama to date". Its OST, sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, had about 221 million views on ARY Digital's YouTube channel as of 1 October 2026. You may well end up disagreeing with its view of women. You will not be bored.
Mere Paas Tum Ho drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Humayun Saeed | Danish |
| Ayeza Khan | Mehwish |
| Adnan Siddiqui | — |
| Hira Mani | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: Images Dawn: Meray Paas Tum Ho finale in cinemas; ARY Digital: Meray Paas Tum Ho; ARY Digital: Meray Paas Tum Ho OST; ARY Digital: Meray Paas Tum Ho Last Episode
19. Suno Chanda — 2018, HUM TV
Suno Chanda was made for Ramzan, and it showed. HUM aired an episode a day through the month in 2018. The premise is old-fashioned fun: Arsal, played by Farhan Saeed, and Ajiya, played by Iqra Aziz, were married off in a nikkah as children by their dying grandfather, and now spend every waking hour trying to escape it. She wants to study business in London; he would rather do nothing at all.
The fighting is the fun, but Saima Akram Chaudhry's script also gives the big Punjabi household around them, led by Nadia Afghan, Samina Ahmed and Farah Shah, plenty of room for comedy. HUM itself described it as a serial "as light as air". Its online life has been remarkable: the first episode on HUM's YouTube channel had about 92 million views as of 1 October 2026, and Farhan Saeed's title song about 19 million. A second season followed in 2019. If the heavier dramas on this list feel like work, this is the palate cleanser.
Suno Chanda drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Farhan Saeed | Arsal (Arsalan) |
| Iqra Aziz | Ajiya |
| Nadia Afghan | — |
| Farhan Aly Agha | — |
| Farah Shah | — |
| Samina Ahmed | — |
| Syed Mohammad Ahmed | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: Images Dawn, 7 June 2018 (Suno Chanda); HUM TV: Suno Chanda Episode 1; HUM TV: Suno Chanda Last Episode, 16 June 2018; HUM TV: Suno Chanda OST
20. Ehd-e-Wafa — 2019, HUM TV (with ISPR)
Four boys meet at Lawrence College, Murree, and the friendship they form has to survive rivalry, ambition and very different careers. Ehd-e-Wafa, written by Mustafa Afridi and directed by Muhammad Saife Hasan for ISPR and Momina Duraid Productions, follows Saad, Shah Zain, Sheharyar and Shariq from school into adult life, and asks what each of them owes the others when duty and loyalty pull in different directions.
It is a direct descendant of Sunehray Din and Alpha Bravo Charlie, and makes the link explicit: Faraz Inam returns as Saad's father, the same Faraz audiences met as a cadet in 1991. Ahad Raza Mir, Osman Khalid Butt, Ahmed Ali Akbar and a young Wahaj Ali play the four friends, and Zara Noor Abbas's Rani steals most of her scenes. The serial premiered on 22 September 2019 and ended on 15 March 2020 after 25 episodes. HUM's upload of the first episode had about 65 million views as of 1 October 2026. Patriotic, yes, but it is the boys' banter that keeps you watching.
Ehd-e-Wafa cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Ahad Raza Mir | Saad |
| Ahmed Ali Akbar | Sheharyar |
| Osman Khalid Butt | Shah Zain |
| Wahaj Ali | Shariq |
| Alizeh Shah | Dua |
| Zara Noor Abbas | Rani |
| Faraz Inam | Saad's father |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: The News on Sunday, 6 September 2020: Television's national pride; HUM TV: Ehd-e-Wafa Episode 1; HUM TV: Ehd-e-Wafa Last Episode, 15 March 2020; HUM TV: Ehd-e-Wafa OST
24. Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan — 2009, Geo Entertainment
Umera Ahmed's Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan is built on one terrible moment: a woman is pushed into swearing on the Quran about something she did not do, and the oath costs her her marriage. Samiya Mumtaz plays Saba, courted by two cousins (Faisal Qureshi's Arfeen and Adnan Siddiqui's Adil), while Samina Peerzada's Tai Amma works quietly against her. A second generation, through Sarwat Gilani's Sara and Imran Abbas's Haider, carries the consequences forward.
In 2009 the serial went out every Saturday night on Geo, and a Dawn Images review of the time spoke of "MZZB mania". Babar Javed directed for 7th Sky, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's title song became as much a part of the experience as the story; Geo's upload of the full song had about 10.9 million views as of 1 October 2026. Among the must-watch Pakistani dramas on faith and injustice, this one has aged better than most, mostly thanks to Samiya Mumtaz, who plays humiliation without ever asking for pity.
Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Samiya Mumtaz | Saba |
| Faisal Qureshi | Arfeen |
| Adnan Siddiqui | Adil |
| Samina Peerzada | Tai Amma |
| Sarwat Gilani | Sara |
| Imran Abbas | Haider |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: 7th Sky Entertainment: Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan (quotes the Dawn Images review); Images Dawn: 10 iconic Pakistani TV dramas; Har Pal Geo: Episode 1; Har Pal Geo: Last Episode 20; Har Pal Geo: full song
25. Diyar-e-Dil — 2015, HUM TV
Diyar-e-Dil is a story about respect, and about what a family will sacrifice to keep it. Farhat Ishtiaq's saga is centred on Bakhtiyar Khan, the formidable Agha Jan played by Abid Ali, and on what happens when his son Behroze (Mikaal Zulfiqar) refuses the childhood engagement to his cousin Arjumand, chooses his classmate Ruhina and leaves home. Agha Jan's answer, that the wedding will go ahead with his younger son Suhaib, sets off a rift whose consequences carry into the next generation.
The serial is remembered for its pairings as much as its plot. Osman Khalid Butt and Maya Ali's Wali and Faarah became a fan favourite couple, and Sanam Saeed's Ruhina gave the older storyline real emotional weight. Haseeb Hassan directed. At the Lux Style Awards in 2016 the drama competed for best TV play, with nominations for Osman Khalid Butt, Maya Ali, Farhat Ishtiaq and Haseeb Hassan, and Zeb Bangash and Momin Durrani's title song was up for best OST. If you want a family drama that is beautiful to look at and gentle on the nerves, start here.
Diyar-e-Dil cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Abid Ali | Bakhtiyar Khan (Agha Jan) |
| Osman Khalid Butt | Wali |
| Maya Ali | Faarah |
| Sanam Saeed | Ruhina |
| Hareem Farooq | Arjumand |
| Mikaal Zulfiqar | Behroze |
| Ali Rehman Khan | Suhaib |
| Behroze Sabzwari | Tajamul |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: The News: Deconstructing the LSA nominations; Images Dawn: 10 iconic Pakistani TV dramas (honourable mention); HUM TV: Diyar-e-Dil Episode 1; HUM Music: Diyar-e-Dil OST
27. Yakeen Ka Safar — 2017, HUM TV
Zubia Khalil saw her father murder her mother when she was a child, and the trauma shapes every choice she makes as an adult. Sajal Aly plays her as a young doctor holding herself together through sheer will. Ahad Raza Mir plays Dr Asfandyar Ali Khan, whose quiet patience slowly earns her trust. Around them, Farhat Ishtiaq's adaptation of her own novel ties three families together, including a subplot about the gang rape of a village girl, Noorie, that the serial treats with care.
Writing for Images Dawn in December 2017, Maria Kari praised Asfandyar as a new kind of male lead: gentle, respectful and in no hurry to rescue anyone. That is a large part of why the drama still circulates on YouTube. HUM's upload of the first episode had about 27.8 million views as of 1 October 2026, a huge figure for a 2017 serial. Shahzad Kashmiri directed, and Hira Mani, as Gaiti, brings welcome lightness. Romance fans who are tired of shouting heroes should start here.
Yakeen Ka Safar cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Ahad Raza Mir | Dr Asfandyar Ali Khan |
| Sajal Aly | Dr Zubia Khalil |
| Hira Mani | Gaiti |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: Images Dawn, 26 December 2017 (Maria Kari on Yakeen Ka Safar); HUM TV: Yakeen Ka Safar Episode 1; HUM TV: Yakeen Ka Safar Last Episode
Modern Blockbusters: Record-Breaking Pakistani Dramas of the 2020s
YouTube turned these serials into global events, with view counts in the tens or hundreds of millions.
8. Parizaad — 2021, HUM TV
Parizaad is a dark-skinned young man from a poor family, and much of the world decides who he is before he opens his mouth. Hashim Nadeem's serial, which premiered on HUM on 20 July 2021, follows him through a series of encounters with love, money and power, each one a chapter in his education. Ahmed Ali Akbar plays him with a stillness that is almost uncomfortable to watch, and the performance turned a respected character actor into a lead.
The structure is unusual for Pakistani television. Rather than one long romance, Parizaad moves through episodes of his life, each with its own cast: Yumna Zaidi, Urwa Hocane, Ushna Shah and Saboor Aly all appear, and Nauman Ijaz gives one of the best supporting turns of his career. Shehzad Kashmiri's direction keeps it grounded. Syed Asrar Shah's Sufi-inflected OST, composed by Waqar Ali, had about 27.7 million views on HUM's channel as of 1 October 2026, and the first episode about 64.5 million. Its finale aired as a two-part mega episode. More detail is on our Parizaad page.
Parizaad drama: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Ahmed Ali Akbar | Parizaad |
| Nauman Ijaz | — |
| Syed Muhammad Ahmed | — |
| Urwa Hocane | — |
| Ushna Shah | — |
| Yumna Zaidi | — |
| Saboor Aly | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Full guide: Parizaad cast, story and OST.
Sources: HUM TV: Parizaad Episode 1, 20 July 2021; HUM TV: Parizaad Last Mega Episode (Part 2); HUM TV: Parizaad OST
10. Ishq Murshid — 2023, HUM TV
A wealthy heir disguises himself as an ordinary man to win the heart of a woman who would never look twice at his real identity. It is a fairy-tale setup, and Ishq Murshid enjoys every bit of it. Bilal Abbas Khan plays Shahmeer, who becomes Fazal Bakhsh to get close to Shibra, played by Durefishan Saleem, a principled young woman with no time for rich men. Their exchanges became Sunday night viewing for a huge audience from October 2023.
Written by Abdul Khaliq Khan and directed by Farooq Rind, the serial went out once a week on HUM at 8pm and ended on 5 May 2024 with a two-part mega final episode. Its numbers online are among the biggest for any Pakistani drama: the first episode had about 95 million views on HUM's channel as of 1 October 2026. Ahmed Jahanzeb's "Tera Mera Hai Pyar Amar" had about 9.4 million views on HUM Music. It is not a subtle show, but as a romantic Pakistani drama with a spiritual streak it is hard to resist.
Ishq Murshid cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Bilal Abbas Khan | Shahmeer / Fazal Bakhsh |
| Durefishan Saleem | Shibra |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: HUM TV: Ishq Murshid Episode 1, 8 October 2023; HUM TV: Ishq Murshid Mega Last Episode 31; HUM Music: Ishq Murshid OST
21. Tere Bin — 2022, Geo Entertainment
Meerab and Murtasim cannot stand each other, which is why everyone watched. Tere Bin, written by Nooran Makhdoom and directed by Siraj ul Haq, premiered on Geo on 28 December 2022 and puts Yumna Zaidi's Meerab, an ambitious young woman set on higher studies, into an arranged marriage with Wahaj Ali's Murtasim, the proud son of a powerful family that lives by tradition. The marriage is a battlefield, and their families keep supplying fresh ammunition.
It is a long serial, 58 episodes ending on 6 July 2023, and fans followed every one. The final episode had about 103 million views on Har Pal Geo as of 1 October 2026, almost matching the first. Bushra Ansari, as the matriarch Salma, held the family scenes together. Shani Arshad's title song, with lyrics by Sabir Zafar, passed 150 million views. For anyone looking for a big modern Pakistani drama full of chemistry, slow-burn romance and family politics, Tere Bin is the current benchmark. See our Tere Bin page for cast details.
Tere Bin cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Yumna Zaidi | Meerab |
| Wahaj Ali | Murtasim |
| Bushra Ansari | Salma |
| Sohail Sameer | Anwar |
| Sabeena Farooq | Haya |
| Hira Soomro | Maryam |
| Mahmood Aslam | Malik Mukhtaar |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Full guide: Tere Bin cast, story and OST.
Sources: Har Pal Geo: Tere Bin Episode 1, 28 December 2022; Har Pal Geo: Tere Bin Last Episode 58, 6 July 2023; Har Pal Geo: Tere Bin OST
Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum is built on a marriage nobody quite planned. Fahad Mustafa plays Mustafa, a struggling, likeable man whose marriage to Hania Aamir's fiery Sharjeena is built on stubbornness on both sides. Farhat Ishtiaq's script, directed by Badar Mehmood for ARY Digital, gives the couple sharp, funny dialogue, and puts their marriage under pressure from family, money and Emmad Irfani's Adeel.
The response was enormous. ARY took the unusual step of screening the grand finale in cinemas in November 2024, as the channel announced alongside the OST, and AUR's "Chal Diye Tum Kahan" passed 47 million views on ARY's YouTube channel. At the 24th Lux Style Awards in December 2025 the serial won both drama acting awards, for Fahad Mustafa and Hania Aamir. Javed Sheikh and Bushra Ansari provide some of the warmest scenes. It is the most recent serial on this list, and the one most likely to convert a newcomer. More on our Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum and Hania Aamir pages.
Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Fahad Mustafa | Mustafa |
| Hania Aamir | Sharjeena |
| Emmad Irfani | Adeel |
| Javed Sheikh | Iftekhar |
| Bushra Ansari | Shagufta |
| Maya Khan | Sidra |
| Naeema Butt | Rubab |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Full guide: Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum cast, story and OST.
Sources: ARY Digital: Chal Diye Tum Kahan OST (finale in cinemas); ARY Digital: Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum Episode 1 highlights; MyBook.pk: Lux Style Awards winners
23. Jaan-e-Jahan — 2023–24, ARY Digital
Ten years after Pyarey Afzal broke hearts, Hamza Ali Abbasi and Ayeza Khan were paired again, and for many fans Jaan-e-Jahan was about putting right what the earlier serial got wrong. Hamza plays Shehraam, the son of a demanding businessman who expects him to take over the family empire, and Ayeza is Mahnoor, the gentle young woman who becomes his anchor. Rida Bilal wrote it, Qasim Ali Mureed directed, and it premiered on ARY Digital on 22 December 2023.
The serial leans on poetry and chemistry more than plot, and it does not hide it. The Express Tribune reported fans celebrating the happy ending after the finale on 24 May 2024, many describing it as closure after Pyarey Afzal's tragic ending; some said the last episode deserved a cinema release of its own. It ran for 41 episodes on Fridays and Saturdays, with a supporting cast that included Asif Raza Mir, Savera Nadeem and Emmad Irfani. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sang the OST. Watch it after Pyarey Afzal for the full effect.
Jaan-e-Jahan cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Hamza Ali Abbasi | Shehraam |
| Ayeza Khan | Mahnoor |
| Asif Raza Mir | — |
| Savera Nadeem | — |
| Emmad Irfani | — |
| Mariyam Nafees | — |
| Nausheen Shah | — |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: The Express Tribune, 27 May 2024 (Jaan-e-Jahan finale); ARY Digital: Jaan-e-Jahan Episode 1, 22 December 2023; ARY Digital: Jaan-e-Jahan Last Episode; ARY Digital: Jaan-e-Jahan OST
26. Khuda Aur Mohabbat (Season 3) — 2021, Geo Entertainment
Numbers first, because they are extraordinary. Geo reported that the first episode of Khuda Aur Mohabbat's third season passed 26 million YouTube views within three weeks of its 12 February 2021 premiere, beating the first episode of Meray Paas Tum Ho, with the first three episodes holding the top three trending spots. By August 2021, Geo said, it was the first Pakistani drama to cross one billion YouTube views, and The News reported two billion that October.
The story is a classic of the Sufi romance genre. Farhad, a young man from a small town played by Feroze Khan, falls for Mahi (Iqra Aziz), the daughter of a powerful family ruled by Rubina Ashraf's Bari Sarkar. When she does not return his feelings, his longing turns into devotion to God. Hashim Nadeem Khan wrote it, Syed Wajahat Hussain directed, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Nish Asher's title song had about 476 million views on Har Pal Geo as of 1 October 2026. The season ended on 5 November 2021. Melodramatic? Unashamedly. But few modern blockbusters have reached so many people.
Khuda Aur Mohabbat cast: main cast and characters| Actor | Character |
|---|
| Feroze Khan | Farhad |
| Iqra Aziz | Mahi |
| Rubina Ashraf | Bari Sarkar |
| Hina Bayat | Maa Ji |
| Junaid Khan | Sikandar |
| Mirza Zain Baig | Taimoor |
A dash means the character name is not confirmed by the sources we used.
Sources: Geo News, 5 March 2021 (Episode 1 views); Geo News, 7 August 2021 (one billion views); The News, 27 October 2021 (two billion views); Har Pal Geo: Episode 1; Har Pal Geo: Last Episode, 5 November 2021; Har Pal Geo: OST
Pakistani Drama Suggestions: FAQ
What is the best Pakistani drama of all time?
There is no single answer. Our first picks are Dhoop Kinare and Tanhaiyan from the PTV era and Humsafar from 2011. Images Dawn ranked Dastaan first in its list of iconic Pakistani dramas. For record-breaking reach, Khuda Aur Mohabbat Season 3 was reported by Geo in 2021 as the first Pakistani drama to cross one billion YouTube views.
What are the top 25 Pakistani dramas to watch?
Our list of 27 starts with Dhoop Kinare, Tanhaiyan, Ankahi, Dhuwan, Alpha Bravo Charlie, Raahein (Rahain), Pyarey Afzal, Parizaad, Humsafar and Ishq Murshid, followed by Waris, Sunehray Din, Andhera Ujala, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Dastaan, Sadqay Tumhare, Udaari, Mere Paas Tum Ho, Suno Chanda, Ehd-e-Wafa, Tere Bin, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, Jaan-e-Jahan, Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan, Diyar-e-Dil, Khuda Aur Mohabbat and Yakeen Ka Safar.
Which are the best romantic Pakistani dramas?
For romance, start with Humsafar, Dhoop Kinare, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Sadqay Tumhare and Yakeen Ka Safar. For newer favourites, try Tere Bin, Ishq Murshid, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum and Jaan-e-Jahan. Pyarey Afzal is one of the most loved, but be ready for a tragic ending.
What are the best old PTV dramas?
Our picks for the best old PTV dramas are Waris (1979), Ankahi (1982), Tanhaiyan (1986), Dhoop Kinare (1987), Sunehray Din (1991), Dhuwan (1994), Alpha Bravo Charlie (1998), Rahain (late 1990s) and the police series Andhera Ujala.
Where can I watch old PTV dramas online?
PTV's official YouTube channel, PTV Digital, has uploaded Dhoop Kinare, Tanhaiyan (Episode 1), Ankahi, Waris, Rahain and Andhera Ujala. ISPR Official hosts Sunehray Din. We could not find official uploads of Dhuwan or Alpha Bravo Charlie.
Where can I watch HUM, Geo and ARY dramas?
HUM TV, Har Pal Geo and ARY Digital upload full episodes of their dramas to their official YouTube channels, and ARY also has the ARY Plus app, where Pyarey Afzal is available in full. Each entry above links only to an official upload.
Who is in the Dhoop Kinare cast?
Dhoop Kinare stars Marina Khan as Dr Zoya and Rahat Kazmi as Dr Ahmer Ansari, with Sajid Hasan as Dr Irfan. It was written by Haseena Moin and directed by Sahira Kazmi.
Is the Humsafar drama based on a novel?
Yes. Humsafar is based on Farhat Ishtiaq's novel, and she also wrote the screenplay. It was directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat and produced by Momina Duraid for HUM TV in 2011.