Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistani film and drama industry should produce quality content to provide the youth with an Ertugrul-like alternative to substandard and glamorised content. 

He said, “If the Pakistani film and drama industry produces quality local content, it will not only progress but also provide the youth with an alternative to substandard and glamorized content. Such a high quality content would be welcomed like the drama serial Ertugrul Ghazi.”

These views were expressed by Prime Minister Imran Khan during a meeting here with the founding team of popular Turkish drama serial Ertugrul led by Kemal Tekden. 

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz, Kashmir Committee Chairman Shehryar Khan Afridi and representatives of the Turkish and Pakistan film industries were present at the meeting. 

The meeting discussed in detail the proposed television series based on the role of renowned subcontinent personality Turk Lala in the Khilafat Movement, to be produced through cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan.

PM Imran Khan said Pakistani dramas were very popular in the world until 1980s. He said that Pakistani film and drama industries needed to work for promotion of local culture so that the West-inspired youth knows their true culture and rejects the neighbouring country’s telecast of the Western content. 

The prime minister said it was unfortunate that the new generation was not aware of the golden era of the Muslim rule in the subcontinent.

Efforts should be made to foil the designs of propaganda mongers by producing films and dramas on that golden era, he added. 

Chairman of the Kashmir Committee Shehryar Khan Afridi apprised the meeting of the important role of Turk Lala in the Khilafat Movement and his importance in Turkey.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of creating awareness among the youth about their heroes in history.

Kemal Tekden, while appreciating the prime minister’s decision of telecasting Turkish dramas in Pakistan, said Imran Khan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared the vision that educating the youth about their history and culture was vital for development of a country.

Besides, he told the prime minister that June 30 was celebrated as a national day in Turkey every year in the honour of Turk Lala.

Television series on Turk Lala would not only create awareness among the youth about Khilafat Movement but also add a new chapter to the Pak-Turkey relations, he added.

The prime minister, while appreciating the project of proposed television series on Turk Lala, assured full cooperation of the government.