Aslam Azhar

Aslam Azhar
Born	September 1932 Lahore, Pakistan
Died	29 Dec 2015 at age 83 Islamabad, Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistani
Occupation	television broadcasting
Title	Chairman and Managing Director Pakistan Television Corporation, Lahore Center-1964

Aslam Azhar (Urdu: اسلم اظہر‎; September 1932 – 29 December 2015) was a Pakistan Television executive, considered to be the "father of Pakistan Television". He was the first Chairman and Managing Director of PTV first appointed during Ayub Khan (President of Pakistan) government in November 1964 when PTV Lahore Center first started broadcasting and went on the air. He was awarded the Tamgha-i-Pakistan (Medal of Pakistan) for his pioneering services in the television broadcasting field by the President of Pakistan.

Aslam Azhar was born in Lahore, Pakistan as a son of a government servant during British Raj. He studied law at Cambridge University and later worked for the Burmah Oil Company. He was also interested in theater, and met his wife Nasreen Jan through a theater group. Meanwhile, Pakistani government wanted to set up a television service in the country. The Japanese were given the contract to set up a pilot television station in Lahore. Aslam Azhar was asked to come to Lahore from Karachi and start the television station in Lahore. He convinced the renowned writers Ashfaq Ahmed and Anwar Sajjad to write for television. Faiz Ahmad Faiz, his favorite poet, became his friend, too. Surrounded by legendary literary figures and great actors, musicians and singers, Aslam Azhar created an environment for great television in 1964. He said that, in those days, commitment counted. Those people were committed and devoted. It was a very cultured society. But over the years, like everywhere else in the world, Pakistan had become a consumer society and television plays a consumer product. He had a reputation of being honest to the core and respected by all at Pakistan Television.

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