By Iman Zahir Shah

It is true that over the past few years, the Pakistani drama industry has established a distinct identity around the world. This can be seen in the way foreign artists frequently praise our dramas and their storylines. One of the major reasons behind the popularity of Pakistani dramas is their close reflection of reality. However, there is one aspect of today's dramas that deserves criticism: most storylines portray women as if they cannot be happy or achieve anything significant in life without a man's support.

There is no denying that a man's presence can make a woman's life more beautiful, whether he is her father, husband or brother. However, just as a man's support holds importance in a woman's life, a woman's presence is equally beautiful and significant in a man's life. 

The problem arises when dramas link a woman's happiness, success and sense of fulfilment to the arrival of a man, as if a prince will eventually appear and bring endless happiness into her life.

The reality, however, is quite different. No prince or king comes into our lives to make every difficulty disappear. Every individual has to fight their own battles. Influenced by such storylines, many young girls also find themselves waiting for their own prince charming. Some consider Abu Bakr from Darr-e-Nijaat their ideal, while others dream of finding happiness with someone like Hamza from Mere Humsafar.

 In this way, while holding on to beautiful expectations of love and relationships, they sometimes put their own identities, abilities and dreams for the future on the back burner.

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What we need is for Pakistani dramas to portray women not merely as people waiting for someone's love, but as strong individuals capable of making their own life decisions. We need stories in which a woman faces pain and challenges, eventually stands on her own feet, picks herself up after being broken and, after experiencing betrayal or abandonment, chooses to dream of a brighter future rather than wait for another prince to enter her life. More importantly, she works hard to turn those dreams into reality.

We need female characters who are the heroines of their own lives, women who believe in their abilities and understand that their identity does not depend on another person. They should be able to love, maintain relationships and support others without ever losing sight of themselves. They should have the confidence to know that someone's departure does not bring life to a standstill, nor does it diminish their worth.

Drama writers must understand that a woman is not just someone's daughter, wife or sister; she is a complete individual in her own right. Instead of repeatedly portraying women as weak and helpless, their courage, self-confidence and struggles should also become part of the stories. 

We must not forget that it is a woman who gives birth to men as well. So why should women repeatedly be portrayed as weak and dependent on others?

The time has come for Pakistani dramas to stop portraying women as individuals waiting for a prince to arrive and instead show them writing the stories of their own lives.