Yawar Hayat (1943-2016)

Born on October 18, 1943, Yawar Hayat is celebrated as one of the chief architects of Pakistan Television (PTV). The son of Brigadier Azmat Hayat Khan, he was the grandson of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan and nephew of renowned film director Anwar Kamal Pasha. A graduate of Aitchison College, Yawar Hayat began his career with PTV in 1965 as a producer-director. His play "Jhok Siyaal" became a nationwide hit, setting the stage for his illustrious career.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he produced many acclaimed PTV plays, including "Samundar," "Nasheman," "Dehleez," "Sahil," and "Gumshuda." His other notable works included "Farar," "Goonj," "Qila Kahani," "Lamp Post," "Jheel," "Jazeera," "Parwaz," "Zanjeer," and "Hisaab." Writer Mustansar Hussain Tarar remarked, "With the departure of Yawar Hayat, a creative era of production and direction has come to an end. He was an excellent conversationalist and had a profound influence on anyone who met him."

In 1998, Yawar Hayat received the award for Best PTV Producer. After a long and distinguished career, he retired from PTV in 2004. Yawar Hayat passed away in November 2016, leaving a legacy of excellence in television production and direction.

Back

Maleeha Lodhi

Maleeha Lodhi obtained her Ph.D in Politics from the London School of Economics in 1980, having received her B.Sc (Econ) from the same institution in 1976. She taught Politics and Sociology at

Mushahid Hussain Sayed

Mushahid Hussain Sayed has the distinction of becoming the youngest editor of a national English daily The Muslim (now defunct). He achieved this honor at the age of 29 in 1982.

Farooq Mazhar

Farooq Mazhar was Pakistan's most prominent sports journalist, television commentator and former Editor of The News. He died on April 28, 2001 in Bahrain enroute to America after a short illness.

Maulana Salahuddin Ahmad (1902-1964)

Maulana Salahuddin Ahmad, editor of one of the most prestigious journals, Adabi Dunya, was born on March 25, 1902. According to Rauf Parekh, he was not 'Maulana' in the sense that the word is

Safdar Mir (1922-1998)

Born in Lahore, Mohammad Safdar Mir was respected and feared for his encyclopedic knowledge, making his mark as a poet and playwright. He acted on stage in both Bombay and Lahore

Gul Hameed Bhatti (1947-2010)

Gul Hameed Bhatti was a top ranked cricket journalist and statistician. He also loved flying and was a commercial pilot with the Pakistan International Airlines between 1968 and 1971.

Nasir Zaidi

On May 13, 1978, four journalists courted arrest at the offices of Musawaat, among them was Nasir Zaidi, a quiet, unassuming and physically frail individual. They were driven away in chains for

F.E. Choudhry (1909-2013)

Affectionately known as Chacha in the journalist community, F. E. Choudhry is credited to have introduced innovative features to photojournalism, such as cricket action photography, pictorial and

Newsroom

Hong Kong conviction of Jimmy Lai draws global criticism

December 15, 2025 Hong Kong’s conviction of Jimmy Lai under the national security law sparks global condemnation from governments and rights groups, intensifying debate over press freedom and judicial independence.

UNESCO report shows global decline in press freedom and safety

December 15, 2025 UNESCO report shows global press freedom and journalist safety declining as self-censorship rises and media economics falter, posing growing risks to independent journalism.

HRW warns Middle East conflict strikes heighten risks for journalists

December 15, 2025 Human Rights Watch updates warn that attacks on civilian infrastructure in Lebanon and frontline areas are increasing risks for journalists, complicating access, verification, and newsroom safety planning.

Iran signals media and tourism push to reshape global image

December 15, 2025 Iran’s government says it will align its media and tourism messaging to rebuild its global image after regional conflicts, signaling an expanded state-led narrative and new challenges for journalists.

Appeals grow for Vietnam journalist Pham Doan Trang's release

December 15, 2025 International rights groups mark the anniversary of Pham Doan Trang’s sentence, renewing calls for her release and highlighting ongoing risks to press freedom and independent reporting in Vietnam.