5 Toxic Practices in Pakistani Dramas That Need To Stop!

From ‘thappars’ to forced marriages, Pakistani dramas are full of practices that are abhorrent and unacceptable

Pakistani dramas are the biggest source of entertainment for audiences. At the same time, they also affect viewers on the subconscious level. People get influenced by the content they consume on television and forge their reality around it. Therefore directors and producers have a great responsibility on their shoulders. Unfortunately not many consider this responsibility seriously.

They continue to show practices that propagate hate, abuse, and disrespect. From infinite thappars to romanticizing stalking, our dramas have left no stone unturned in bringing out the worst. Here are five practices that our dramas need to stop showing on mass media.

Thappar pe Thappar

It seems our makers have taken quite an influence from Indian soaps hence the thappar trend is really dominant in our dramas as well. From Danish’s much-acclaimed slap in Mere Paas Tum Ho to the multiple slaps bestowed upon Rabi in drama serial Nand, this practice has rather become a norm. Any form of outrage, disappointment, or grief is exhibited by slapping and in most cases, it’s the woman who gets slapped.


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This practice is subliminally giving out the message that hitting someone is socially acceptable! In a society where women are already subjected to immense abuse and violence, it is sad that we are still promoting domestic abuse on a national level.

Forced Marriages

In Pakistani dramas, storytellers believe that the sole purpose of a woman is to get married. No matter what her age, ambition, or desire be, in the end, she has to get married. Many at times, women in our dramas are married without even their consent.

This culture is completely normalized in our plays. A woman is forced to marry, she then accepts her circumstances and starts living happily with her husband. Why is she doing it? Well, because she is a woman and has to save the “izzat of the Khandaan.”

Normalizing sexist jokes

Whether it’s Yasir Hussain’s ill-timed jibes at our actresses or a hero casually laughing over a fat girl, sexist jokes are considered to be completely normal and funny! Hardly anyone points out what’s wrong in them. There is a need to sensitize male writers about the matter, so they can come up with better punch lines. Casually joking about a woman’s body, her dressing or her choices is not funny anymore.


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Portraying working women as corrupt and characterless

Firstly, our Pakistani dramas do not like to show ambitious, working women. To our writers and directors, women are made for household chores. Secondly, even if there are a few working women shown on television then they are portrayed as characterless.

Or in another situation, they are looked down upon. A case in point is Log Kya Kaheinge perspective, where the heroine had to work because of her circumstances but was constantly ridiculed. We can’t understand that what is wrong in showing working women who are strong and are respected. They do exist!

Normalizing Stalking

What is the sign of true love in Pakistani dramas? The hero chases the heroine and knows no extreme in doing that. So much so that he can turn into a complete harasser but hey, that’s his love right! Pakistani dramas really need to outgrow this stalker syndrome and show that love is mutual not forced.

What trends do you dislike the most, comment below.