Pakistan Television Corporation mostly known as PTV has resumed the Arabic dubbing of two Urdu drama serials. According to Pakistan’s information minister, it’s a part of a cultural exchange program initiated between Islamabad and Riyadh last year.
Last year, Former Information minister Fawad Chaudhry’s visited the Saudi capital where he announced Islamabad’s plans to send overseas its television series to the Kingdom soon. Also, the news broke out that popular drama serial ‘Dhoop Kinare’ would air in Saudi Arabia with Arabic dubbing.
Three serials have since been selected for dubbing, namely Dhoop Kinare, Tanhaiyan and Aahat, with PTV officials citing holdup in the dubbing process of the last two due to budget constraints.
The Arabic version of Dhoop Kinare, however, has been completed, according to Dr Lubna Farah, a translation expert who is managing the project.
In conversation with Arab News, Information Minister Shibli Faraz told:
“Work has resumed on the project and [the finished product] will soon be given probably to Saudi Arabia and the UAE [to air on] their television channels,”
On the other hand, Muhammad Idrees, Controller International Affairs at PTV, said:
“It was as yet unclear when pending work would resume on the two dramas. It is entirely a ministry (of information) prerogative when and where they send these dramas.”
Former international affairs director, Shazia Sikander spoke:
“The project was initiated three years ago…the other two (Tanhaiyan and Aahat]) could not be completed because of the non-availability of the remaining funds.”
This is the first project in which PTV has dubbed local TV productions for Saudi viewers, and is the result of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision to modernize the Kingdom and create new entertainment avenues for its people.
