The government needs to be fully aware of the contribution made by artistes in art and culture, and ensure that they in turn are duly recognised and supported by the state. While PTV claims to have boosted the country’s soft image both at home and abroad, while making contributions towards the dissemination of information and news programmes (thus its tagline ‘Proud to be a Family Channel’), there is also the blame that some other TV channels these days spread despondency rather than hope in these tough times.

There was also the time when there were no parallels to PTV dramas that were internationally renowned — something to which the authorities concerned still stake a claim to. And to celebrate achievements in dramatisation and more, the PTV Awards were constituted. In hindsight, the ceremony has been somewhat inconsistent but it seems to have picked up pace more recently.

The 16th PTV Awards ceremony to recognise the contribution made by artistes in the field of the performing arts was recently held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad. It was co-hosted by Reema and Omar Sharif, Babra Sharif and Naeem Bukhari, Bushra Ansari, Saba Qamar, Farooq Hasan, Noor, Behroze Subzwari, Nusrat Haris and many others.

Awards in various categories were distributed and senior artistes including Sahira Kazmi and filmstar Zeba and eminent drama writers were invited on stage to give away the trophies to the winners.

Of the colourful song and dance numbers lined up to give a break from the award-giving ceremony, folk singer Arif Lohar performed to Ek Phul Motiye Da while Sahir Ali Bagga and kathak dancer Nighat Chaudhry opened the ceremony. Meera performed to More Piya while Shafqat Amanat Ali’s performance to Tere Naina was breathtakingly spectacular.

Javed Sheikh and Meera danced to a musical number based on a medley of yesteryear hits as a tribute to screen icons Mohammed Ali and Zeba. Resham, Saima and Hadiqa Kiyani were also there among many others who kept the crowd entertained with their classic dance moves. Amid a blitz of song and dance and awards, the ceremony which lasted over five hours finally came to an end.