Pakistan’s first-ever dating show, Lazawaal Ishq, hosted by actress Ayesha Omar, has stirred widespread controversy online, with many speculating whether it would air on local television. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has now stepped in to clarify that the show will not be broadcast on any licensed TV channel.
In a statement shared on social media, PEMRA confirmed it had received multiple complaints regarding the program’s social media campaign. The authority explained:
Lazawaal Ishq is content created for social media platforms and is not being aired on any PEMRA-licensed TV channel. PEMRA regulations only apply to licensed television broadcasters.
The clarification comes after days of heated discussions online, where users questioned whether the program could make its way to mainstream television and expressed concerns about its format.
Ayesha Omar, however, had already clarified in an earlier interview that Lazawaal Ishq will be released exclusively on YouTube. “It’s the first of its kind for Pakistani and Urdu-speaking viewers across the globe,” she said.
Modeled after the popular Turkish reality show Aşk Adası (Love Island), the Urdu adaptation will follow four men and four women living together in a lavish villa, with their relationships, challenges, and emotional journeys unfolding over 100 episodes. The season will conclude with one pair emerging as the “winning couple.”
“You’ll get to watch their story, see bonds form, rivalries emerge, and find out who ultimately becomes the winning couple,” Omar explained.
Sharing her excitement about hosting, she added, “There were many choices, and I’m grateful I was selected. The contestants are young Pakistanis, boys and girls, and you can see some of them in the promo. It’s all about love, emotions, and discovering the winning duo.”
The show’s teaser showcases sweeping shots of the Bosphorus, with Omar sailing across the water before entering the villa — a sleek, modern residence featuring a pool where contestants will live and compete.
Here is the official trailer: