KARACHI:

Ramazan transmissions have long held a special place in Pakistan’s television landscape. What began as modest, spiritually focused programming on state television has, over the decades, transformed into a fiercely competitive prime-time genre, one now facing renewed criticism from within the industry itself.

In the early decades of Pakistan Television (PTV), Ramadan programming was largely restrained and reverent. Shows revolved around Quranic teachings, discussions with religious scholars, naats, and short segments on ethics and social values. The tone was instructional rather than entertaining, and ratings were rarely a talking point.

The format changed dramatically in the early 2000s with the arrival of private TV channels and more decisively with Aamir Liaquat Hussain. His Ramadan transmissions introduced energy, emotion and mass appeal, blending religious discourse with live audiences, charity drives, quizzes, giveaways and celebrity participation.

The model proved hugely successful. Ratings soared, advertisers followed, and Ramadan became the most lucrative season of the television calendar. While many praised Liaquat for making religious programming accessible to the masses, critics also warned that spectacle was beginning to overshadow substance.

Over time, nearly every mainstream channel adopted and amplified this format. What was once a spiritual broadcast increasingly turned into an entertainment marathon. Emotional storytelling, personal revelations and controversial discussions began to dominate screens, often ensuring viral clips and high digital engagement.

In recent years, hosts such as Fiza Ali made headlines after revealing sensitive personal matters on air, while Nida Yasir in her morning show sparked debate by inviting high-profile figures like Bushra Ansari and Iqbal hussain to discuss her marriage on live television.

Such moments, while boosting TRPs and social media traction, also intensified criticism about ethical boundaries especially during the holy month.

In the latest controversy the debate resurfaced sharply this Ramadan when senior actor Fazila Qazi openly criticised the content strategies of Ramadan transmissions, remarking on her social media post that “Pakistan me Shetaan qaid nahi huwa bal k Ramadan transmissions ka host ban gaya.”

Fazila further questioned regulatory oversight, asking, “Where is PEMRA? What kind of things are being said in Ramadan transmissions, we cross all limits for ratings!”

Her comments drew a pointed response from Ramadan host Javeria Saud, who suggested Qazi’s criticism stemmed from not being offered a Ramadan show.

She replied through her Instagram story, directly targeting Fazila Qazi’s remarks. “In bechari ko moqa ni mila kisi transmission ko host karnay ka is lie shetan ki khala keh rahi hen k angoor khattay hen.”

Qazi later responded through a series of reflective Instagram posts, standing by her concerns over declining standards.

Amid the public back-and-forth, actor Sonya Hussyn weighed in with a broader critique not targeting individuals, but the culture surrounding Ramadan programming.

She expressed disappointment over artists using harsh language online during Ramadan and stressed that hosting a Ramadan transmission should be seen as a saadat (privilege), not a professional trophy.

“Many of us have been offered this opportunity multiple times,” she wrote, “yet even the thought of it sends shivers down the spine. We do not consider ourselves knowledgeable enough to carry such weight.”

Hussyn also warned that sensational, TRP-driven content may deliver short-term gains but risks lowering society’s intellectual and moral standards. “People look up to us, observe us, and learn from us,” she noted, calling for humility and restraint.