Why the 40-Episode Pakistani Drama Format is Killing Our Storytelling

Look, I need to get this off my chest. We need to talk about the elephant in the room when it comes to our television industry. Pakistani dramas are becoming unbearably, exhaustingly long. I remember a time when a drama would wrap up in 20 to 25 episodes, leaving us wanting more. Think back to classics like Dhoop Kinare or even early 2010s hits like Humsafar. They told a complete, devastatingly beautiful story in 23 episodes. Now? We are being dragged through 40 episodes of endless crying, repetitive flashbacks, and slow-motion stares that last longer than my patience. It is honestly killing the art of storytelling.

Here is the thing. When a writer pitches a brilliant concept, it usually has enough meat for maybe 20 episodes. But then the channel executives step in. They see the TRPs, they see the YouTube views, and suddenly, a tight, gripping narrative is stretched like chewing gum. Yaar, how many times do we need to see the main lead staring out of the window while a sad OST plays in the background? We get it, she is heartbroken. We do not need five episodes of her crying into her dupatta to understand her pain.

Take a look at recent mega-hits. Remember Tere Bin? The chemistry between Wahaj Ali and Yumna Zaidi was electric, and the first 20 episodes had the entire nation in a chokehold. But then what happened? They dragged the separation track so much that even the most die-hard Murtasim fans were pulling their hair out. Episodes 25 to 40 are just filler. The villain hatches the same misunderstanding plot three times. Haya is still lurking behind pillars. The mother-in-law mixes something in the tea, or someone overhears half a conversation from behind a curtain. Kya baat hai, what groundbreaking writing! By the time we reach the finale, the impact is completely lost. It becomes a chore, bilkul azaab.

Some people argue that we should be grateful we are not watching Turkish dizis. And honestly? They have a point. Those shows run for two hour