KARACHI: Leading Pakistani actor and producer Humayun Saeed has called on the government to support the creation of a local streaming platform, saying it would help introduce Pakistani dramas and films to audiences around the world.
In a recent interview, Saeed praised the quality of Pakistani television dramas, saying they have a distinct identity rooted in their storytelling, dialogue and the particular style of the Urdu language.
He said Pakistani dramas have the potential to find a place on international streaming platforms, particularly Netflix.
However, the actor argued that Pakistan should not rely solely on foreign platforms and should instead build its own over-the-top (OTT) service. Such a platform, he said, would give local filmmakers, actors and producers more opportunities to showcase their talent.
Citing India as an example, Saeed noted that homegrown streaming services gained a foothold there first, which in turn drew the attention of global platforms. A similar platform in Pakistan, he said, could encourage fresh storytelling and the production of high-quality digital content.
The actor also spoke about the role of social media in bringing new faces into the entertainment industry. He said TikTok and other digital platforms have given emerging talent a stage to display their skills, but cautioned that popularity on social media is not a complete measure of an actor’s true acting ability.
Pointing to actress Hania Aamir as an example, Saeed recalled that he first saw her on Dubsmash, after which she was offered a role in a drama.