ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s state television said on Wednesday a Pakistani soap opera with Arabic subtitles would air in Saudi Arabia in June this year, one of two television series to be broadcast in the Muslim Kingdom.
Last week Pakistan’s information minister Fawad Chaudhry announced during a visit to the Saudi capital of Riyadh that Islamabad would soon export its television series to the Kingdom.
The move is part of a push by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the last three years to modernize the deeply conservative Kingdom where cinemas, public concerts and other forms of entertainment have been banned for decades.
“We have selected two very popular dramas, Dhoop Kinare (Sunlight’s Edge) and Tanhaiyaan (Loneliness), for Arabic subtitles,” Shahzia Sikander, Director International Relations at Pakistan Television, told Arab News. “We will be able to send Dhoop Kinare to Saudi Arabia by June this year.”
She said the move would not only be a source of revenue for Pakistan but also bring recognition for local television series and actors and help Saudi nationals understand the culture of Pakistan.
“This is the first time that Pakistan Television is subtitling Pakistani drama into Arabic for Saudi viewers,” Sikander said.
Last week, during the information minister’s visit to the Kingdom on the invitation of Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Chaudhry said Saudi Airlines would soon include Pakistani television dramas in their in-flight entertainment. He also said Pakistan’s art academies and actors would extend their support to Saudi Arabia as it established new academies for performing arts.
Pakistan is also once again expected to participate in a music festival to be held in Saudi Arabia in April this year. Last year, Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan participated in the festival at Riyadh’s King Fahad Culture Center.
In September 2018, Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Information Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad had visited Pakistan to discuss how the two allies could broaden their relationship in the fields of media and culture.
Two major Pakistani drama series to air in Saudi Arabia this year
Two major Pakistani drama series to air in Saudi Arabia this year
- Pakistan Television has picked two television series, Dhoop Kinare and Tanhaiyaan, for broadcast in the Kingdom
- This is the first time Pakistan is subtitling its drama series into Arabic for Saudi viewers
Pakistan FM discusses regional developments, bilateral cooperation with Saudi, Egyptian counterparts
Pakistan FM discusses regional developments, bilateral cooperation with Saudi, Egyptian counterparts
- The development comes a day after PM Sharif received Trump’s invite to join Gaza peace board, amid Iran tensions
- Pakistani, Saudi and Egyptian FMs stress the importance of dialogue, agree to continue discussions at WEF in Davos
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday held separate telephone conversations with his Saudi and Egyptian counterparts to discuss regional developments as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the Pakistani foreign office said.
The statement comes a day after the foreign ministry in Islamabad said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had received an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join the so-called “Board of Peace” for Gaza.
It followed weeks of tensions over violent protests in Iran, which prompted threats from Washington of military intervention over the killing of more than 4,000 protesters, and developments in Yemen.
“Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke with Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and discussed regional developments and avenues for deeper bilateral cooperation,” the Pakistani foreign office said.
“Both leaders looked forward to continuing their discussions on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.”
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a long-standing strategic partnership in political, security and economic domains, underpinned by deep religious and cultural ties. Both countries have closely engaged with each other on regional and global developments in recent months.
Separately, Dar spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Dr. Badr Abdelatty and discussed with him the recent regional developments and ongoing bilateral and multilateral issues, according to the Pakistani foreign office.
“Both leaders emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation,” it added.
