HARIPUR: There had been hardly any external competitor of Pakistan Television unlike today, but the producers and management used to throw challenges to fellow stations within the organisation, and the quest to excel internally with a kind of stand-alone productions encouraged promotion of a healthy infotainment.

These views were expressed by legendary writer and former PTV managing director Akhtar Waqar Azeem while talking to the participants of Lok Chaupal, a fortnightly community discussion forum of Taxila Stone Arts (TSA) held at Wakefield Farms, Khanpur, here on Monday.

Renowned poet Iftikhar Arif was the guest of honor, while former special adviser to PM Dr Zafar Mirza and Ayaz Gul Kiyani moderated the sessions. Poets, journalists, social activists, development scientists and members of academia were in attendance.

Mr Azeem narrated many anecdotes from his life at PTV, which he joined as a young professional and climbed to the top of the organisation. He reflected upon the social, political and professional aspects of his life’s experiences at the state-run TV.

Sharing the story of how he joined PTV as producer in 1967 being a fresh university graduate, Mr Azeem said that he got formal professional training at a makeshift studio in Chaklala, Rawalpindi.

“Two years later, when I got fully equipped with all tricks of the trade, I was sent to the Karachi PTV centre, which was then under the supervision of a giant, Aslam Azhar,” he said, adding like an army recruit, he went through laborious exercises of running after celebrities to get appointments for PTV shows, attending late night rehearsals, getting up early to reach the playground to set up cameras and sound equipment.

He said he produced all sorts of programmes from sports to music to quiz shows, but his own choice was Sukhanver, a literary programme decorated with musical compositions. Several popular songs of Fareeda Khanum, Mehdi Hassan, Amanat Ali Khan, Iqbal Bano, Mehnaz Begam, Naheed Akhtar and Nayyara Noor owe themselves to Azeem’s Sukhanver.

Mr Azeem also authored several books, including the history of Pakistan Television and the World Cup cricket. His book on PTV was declared as the best book of the year in 2016.

Akhtar Azeem received Pride of Performance award from the government for services in the field of TV production in 2002, and a lifetime achievement award from the Graduate Cultural Awards Committee in 2003.

Iftikhar Arif also spoke about Akhtar Azeem as his younger and lifelong colleague. He quoted many instances shedding light on various aspects of professional and personal life of Akhtar Azeem and praised his efforts for PTV.

Iftikhar Arif, Shakil Jazib and Punjabi poet Qasim Mehmood also recited their verses.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2024