Karachi:
Ayesha Omar is ready to host Lazawaal Ishq, Pakistan’s first dating reality show. The message has already triggered a sharp debate. The concept reflects international formats such as Love Island, which brings together four men and four women in a villa where they will date, participate in challenges and form alliances, while cameras track their each movement. The final will see a few declared winners.
The teaser released in mid -September quickly shared the audience. Online criticism poured in, with many arguing that the program collided with cultural traditions and Islamic values. Boycott campaigns scattered on social media, with hashtags targeting both the show and its host. Calls also grew for regulators to step in before it could reach screens.
In response to the controversy, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued a clarification. The regulator confirmed that it has received a large number of complaints, but explained that Lazawaal Ishq has not been licensed for TV broadcast in Pakistan. Pemra noted that its jurisdiction applies only to licensed TV channels, and as the show’s teasers circulate online and will be broadcast on YouTube, it can neither ban nor approve the content at this time.
From Istanbul, Ayesha Omar defended the project as a groundbreaking step for Urdu-speaking audience. She said the participants are all Pakistani and described the production as a mix of drama, romance and competition. With her villa setting, swimming pool and 24-hour filming, she added, the series is designed to deliver an immersive reality show experience that was never tried before in the local industry.
Despite her optimism, pushback remains strong. Religious groups, cultural commentators and many social media users claim that dating shows risk that undermines family values and promotes behaviors that are seen as inappropriate. Some critics have even promised to contact the courts to try to block the program before it is launched.
A user said “guys, we all have to report it. It is against our religious culture and norms.”
Another declared “Report the thank you, we do not support it.”
Another user said to “having some decency, it’s one thing to sin … and is another to publish it !!! Fear allah … What do you leave in this world! ??? What do you lead people to ??? You might get fancy checks and what not but so you don’t understand the fitnah! Among them is a man who commits an evil act at night that Allah has hidden from him, so in the morning he says: O people, I have committed this sin! His Lord had hidden it during the night, but in the morning he reveals what Allah has hidden. “Source: ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6069, ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2990.”
Another declared “Unfortunately, the people who criticize here are often the same who enjoy reality shows from other countries. But when it is our own reality show that is done by our own people, we are quick to criticize and detract from it, without even knowing the real context and watching the show. own reality show.
Another user said “Let’s boycott and raise our voices before this shamelessness starts! Look, as these female actresses in Pakistan indulge in our youth through Western Culture’s clothes! We don’t want such shows please !!”
Currently, no broadcast date or official platform has been confirmed, leaving the show on uncertain territory. What is clear is that Lazawaal Ishq has already become a flash point in discussions about entertainment, regulation and cultural identity. For supporters, it represents a chance to experiment with new formats and expand Urdu content on the global scene. For offenders, it highlights the tension between imported media trends and local values. Whatever its fate is, the debate about the show has ensured that it will be remembered as a marker of how forced the future of TV in Pakistan has become.
