ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s state-run television (PTV) will include Turkish drama series “Dirilis: Ertugrul” in its entertainment schedule for Ramadan this year with the first episode to be aired this week, officials said on Sunday.
Dubbed in Urdu to cater to local audiences, the period drama depicts Muslim victories in the 13th century and will “be telecast by PTV on the directives of PM Imran Khan,” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Firdous Ashiq Awan, tweeted on Sunday.
PTV also shared a brief promo of the serial on its Twitter account, adding that “it will air 9:10 p.m. (Pakistan time) on PTV Home every night from 1st of Ramadan.”
The drama was supposed to air in December 2019 but was put on hold for sharing and telecast rights.
The decision to include it in the Ramadan TV schedule follows a directive by PM Khan, who recommended the popular TV opera in October last year, reasoning that it promoted “true Islamic values,” before insisting that the five-season series “be dubbed in Urdu.”
Since its premiere on state-run Turkish TV channel, TRT 1, in November 2014, the serial has been telecast in 60 countries.
In an interview in December last year, PTV Director for International Relations, Shazia Sikander, who is also the head of this project, told Arab News that they had dubbed the drama in Urdu after securing all the rights from TRT.
“PTV has got exclusive rights for dubbing and screening it in Pakistan,” she had said at the time, adding that the “historical drama will captivate audiences.”
