30 Best Pakistani Dramas Where Every Plot Twist Will Keep You Hooked Till End

Sampada Sharma

Entertainment

The Pakistani TV industry, a relatively new one though, has been fast catching up both in terms of popularity and great content. With the limited number of episodes of each show. a format diligently followed by the West, and a specific storyline, these are certainly capturing the audience’s attention, worldwide. The plots aren’t dragged, the background music is minimal, and the language, well, it’s just poetry.

So if you’ve been craving for good television, get online and watch these 30 best rated Pakistani dramas instead. 

Sr. No.Serial NameIMDb Rating
1.Humsafar (2011-2012)8.9
2.Daam (2010)8.5
3.Mora Piya (2013)7.6
4.Kankar (2013)8.3
5.Zindagi Gulzar Hai (2012-2013)8.9
6.Shehr-e-Zaat (2012)8.2
7.Dastaan (2010)8.8
8.Dur e Shahwar (2020)8.8
9.Jackson Heights (2014)8.9
10.Thakan (2012)7.8
11.Mere Qatil Mere Dildar (2011-2012)7.9
12.Maat (2011)6.2
13.Khuda Aur Muhabbat (2016)8.3
14.Diyar-e-Dil (2015)9
15.Chup Raho (2014)8
16.Ishq Gumshuda (2010)7.6
17.Meri Zaat Zarrae Benishan (2009)9
18.Kahi Unkahi (2012)8
19.Badi Aapa (2012)7.9
20.Gul-e-Rana (2015)7.3
21.Dhoop Kinare (1987)9.4
22.Dhuwan (1994)9.4
23.Parizaad (2021)9.2
24.Sunehray Din (1991)9.2
25.Ishq Ibadat (2011-2023)9.1
26.Alif (2019-2020)9.1
27.Tanhaiyaan (1985-2011)9.1
28.Zoya Sawleha (2017)9.1
29.Wafa (2016)9
30.Huqooq Ul Ibad (2021)9

1. Humsafar (2011-2012)

The story revolves around Khirad (Mahira) and Ashar (Fawad) who are compelled to marry each other to fulfill the wishes of their parents. They eventually fall in love and have the most beautiful bond. Sara (Naveen Waqar) had always imagined her life with Ashar but when that fails to happen, she makes it her top priority to separate the loving couple. This is one of the best Pakistani dramas.

2. Daam (2010)

Zara (Sanam Baloch) and Maleeha (Aamina Sheikh) are best friends despite the huge class difference between them. When Maleeha’s brother Junaid (Adeel Hussain) returns to Pakistan, he shows interest in marrying Zara. Maleeha gets extremely uncomfortable with this arrangement as she feels her best friend has manipulated her all these years just so she could enjoy their luxurious lifestyle.

3. Mora Piya (2013)

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Faisal (Adeel Hussain) is a journalist who has been working on the illegal activities of the land mafia. The night of his wedding to Ujala (Amina Sheikh), she is raped by a gangster who is out to get revenge on Faisal. Soon after, she gets pregnant. Their relationship goes through turmoil as Faisal cannot accept this child as his own, and Ujala being his mother, cannot live without him. This is one of the best pakistani plays.

Also Read: Pakistani Movies From The Last Decade

4. Kankar (2013)

Kiran (Sanam Baloch) and Sikandar (Fahad Mustafa) fall in love and marry each other. Though Sikandar keeps professing his love constantly, he is also a short-tempered guy who gets violent with her frequently. Kiran tries to change Sikandar but to no avail. She finally decides to leave him when she suffers a tragic loss because of him.

5. Zindagi Gulzar Hai (2012-2013)

Kashaf (Sanam Saeed) is a diligent student but has a very cynical view of life. Her father remarried when she was young so she doesn’t want to depend on a man for anything. Zaroon (Fawad Khan) comes from an affluent family but his orthodox nature gets the better of him sometimes. The two meet while studying for their post-graduation and are at loggerheads throughout college. When they meet again years later, Zaroon proposes marriage, and Kashaf, who is an independent woman by now, is quite hesitant.

6. Shehr-e-Zaat (2012)

Falak (Mahira Khan) has had a luxurious life and has never been denied anything. She falls in love with Salman (Mikaal Zulfiqar) and convinces him to marry her. Salman agrees but Falak’s world starts falling apart when she learns of Salman’s infidelity. The series beautifully captures one’s relationship with a higher power as Falak soon finds that she has just cared for material things all her life. She starts discovering the actual meaning of life and starts directing her anger towards constructive projects.

7. Dastaan (2010)

This love triangle is set during the partition period of India and Pakistan. Bano (Sanam Baloch) and Hassan (Fawad Khan) fall in love but are separated due to the partition. Bano is kidnapped by a man in India who she believes will take her to Pakistan one day. In their time apart, Hassan gets engaged to Rabia (Mehreen Raheel). When Bano returns, she feels disheartened by the state of Pakistan as someone tries to rape her. This is one of the best rated pakistani dramas.

8. Dur e Shahwar (2020)

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Durr-e-Shehwar’s (Samina Peerzada) daughter, Shandana (Nadia Jamil) has been married for almost a decade but her marriage hits a rocky patch and she decides to live at her parents’ house for some time. When Shandana starts contemplating divorce, her mother tells her about the initial years of her marriage. She tells how her husband wasn’t as loving and did not pay much attention to her in the beginning.

9. Jackson Heights (2014)

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This Pakistani drama is set in the Jackson Heights neighborhood in Queens, New York City. It deals with the problems that Pakistanis face while living abroad. The four main characters of the show are bound by problems and their relationships that act as a shackle for them to survive in a rough world. The shiny life they imagined when they migrated acts as a cautionary tale for those who think that moving abroad can solve their monetary problems.

10. Thakan (2012)

Sadaf (Saba Qamar) has worked tirelessly for years to support her family and being the only earning member, she copes with distasteful experiences at work. Unknown to Sadaf, her family doesn’t value her and just spends the money she earns. Her mother even refuses the proposals that come for Sadaf as there will be no one to earn once she leaves. After learning this and feeling betrayed, Sadaf decides to get married and leave the house. She ends up getting married to an older man with three kids. This good pakistani drama is a must watch.

11. Mere Qatil Mere Dildar (2011-2012)

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Maham (Mehwish Hayat) and Umar (Ahsan Khan) are in love and marry each other. Soon after, Maham realizes that Bakhtyar (Adnan Siddiqui), Umar’s elder brother was the stalker who had been harassing her for a while. The family wanted Umar to marry another girl, Shifa, and thus her life in this household became quite difficult. Due to certain misunderstandings, Umar ends up divorcing Maham but she is not one to take it quietly. She sets out to take revenge on this family and emerges triumphant.

12. Maat (2011)

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Aiman (Aamina Sheikh) and Saman (Saba Qamar) are sisters but have drastically different approaches to life. While Aiman believes in contentment and sacrifice, Saman wants a rich husband who can provide for her. Their paths lead them to a complicated matrimonial life with Saman’s son being brought up by Aiman. Saman’s greed to get more and manipulate people along the way leads to her downfall, while Aiman, who has been a sufferer all her life finds contentment with her son. 

Also Read: Shows & Movies Pakistani Cinema Copied From Bollywood

13. Khuda Aur Muhabbat (2016)

Hammad (Imran Abbas Naqvi), who comes from an elite family falls in love with Imaan (Sadia Khan), who is a maulvi’s daughter. Their class difference leads Hammad to leave his house so he can gain respect from Imaad’s father. This is a famous Pakistani drama.

14. Diyar-e-Dil (2015)

This Pakistani family drama tells the story of a joint family led by the patriarch Agha Jaan (Abid Ali) and beautifully explores the relationships between parents and children. Circumstances lead the older son of the family to marry by his own choice, while the younger son marries as per his parent’s wish. The show also explores the Pakistani custom of engaging kids while they’re still young.

15. Chup Raho (2014)

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This revolutionary drama tells the story of Rameen (Sajal Ali) who is raped repeatedly by her sister’s husband, Numair (Syed Jibran). When she tells this to the rest of her family members, she is asked to not say a word as this can affect her sister’s marriage. Her husband, who is also Numair’s brother, refuses to believe this as well. Rameen is made to stay in the servant quarters as her family now starts believing that she is mentally ill and is just cooking up stories.

16. Ishq Gumshuda (2010)

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Ali (Humayun Saeed) loves Alizeh (Sarwat Gilani) dearly and wants to marry her but she has always seen him as a friend and thus chooses to decline the proposal. He later marries Neha (Aamina Sheikh) but constantly cares for Alizeh. This leads to major disturbances in his marital life. Neha also finds it difficult to survive with a man who is in love with another woman. The relationship dynamics, which are already in flames are further ignited when Alizeh decides to marry a man who is much older than her.

17. Meri Zaat Zarrae Benishan (2009)

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This family drama tells the story of Saba (Samiya Mumtaz) who marries her love Arfeen (Faisal Qureshi) but his family is against the match. It is alleged that Saba slept with another man which strained her reputation in front of her in-laws, leading to her husband divorcing her. Years later, Saba’s daughter from her second marriage with a cruel husband, Sara, comes looking for Arfeen to find out about her mother. The show explores a woman’s plight in a conservative family setup. 

18. Kahi Unkahi (2012)

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Sherry (Sheharyar Munnawar Siddique) who comes from a rich family is fascinated by the humble nature of Zoya (Ayeza Khan). Though he is engaged to someone else, it is Zoya’s kind nature that attracts him towards her. Circumstances play a major role and it is not easy for them to get married to each other as his family is strictly against this match.

Also Read: Best Shah Rukh Khan Movies

19. Badi Aapa (2012)

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The drama’s central character, Zubeida (Savera Nadeem), is addressed by everyone as Badi Aapa. She is the one who makes all the important decisions for her family. Things change dramatically when her husband marries another woman and she decides to marry her old lover. Her plans go awry quickly and she is left on a crossroad. This is one of the popular pakistani serials.

20. Gul-e-Rana (2015)

Gul-e-Rana’s (Sajal Ali) constant struggle to change the mindset of a conservative society makes the plot of this show. She fights for women’s rights and the sacrifices they are expected to perform after marriage. As a matter of circumstances, she is married to a narcissistic, chauvinist man who refuses to change his ways.

Also Read: Iconic Indian TV Shows

21. Dhoop Kinare (1987)

Dr. Ahmer Ansari returns to Pakistan after completing his medical studies in the United States. He joins the hospital where his late father, Dr. Hamid Ansari, had worked. There, he forms a professional and personal relationship with his senior colleague, Dr. Zoya Ali Khan, portrayed by Marina Khan. This is one of the all time best pakistani dramas.

22. Dhuwan (1994)

It revolves around the lives of five friends: Azhar, Kashif, Naveed, Daniyal, and Imran, who belong to different backgrounds but share a strong bond of friendship. After completing their education, they decide to join the police force to bring positive change to society and combat crime. However, their journey is fraught with challenges as they encounter corrupt officials, dangerous criminals, and personal tragedies along the way.

23. Parizaad (2021)

Parizaad, a young man with a unique appearance and a humble background faces ridicule and discrimination due to his unconventional looks, which leads to deep-seated insecurities and a struggle for acceptance in society. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, he harbors dreams of becoming a successful actor. His journey is marked by encounters with various individuals who either support or hinder his aspirations.

24. Sunehray Din (1991)

Set against the backdrop of the 1947 partition of India, the story follows the lives of two families, the Khans and the Hashmis, who are best friends and neighbors in pre-partition India. As the partition unfolds, the families are separated, with one part of the family migrating to Pakistan and the other remaining in India. The drama depicts the challenges, sacrifices, and hardships faced by both families as they adjust to their new lives in the wake of partition.

25. Ishq Ibadat (2011-2023)

The protagonist of Ishq Ibadat is Rano, a poor village girl who falls in love with Sahir, the adopted son, despite knowing that she will marry Danyal, her employer’s only son.

26. Alif (2019-2020)

Alif is the story of Momin and Momina, whose paths cross at a fateful moment for Momina to preserve her family’s way of life and Momina to rediscover his roots.

27. Tanhaiyaan (1985-2011)

The story revolves around the lives of two sisters, Zara and Sanya. After the death of their parents, they move to Karachi and start living in a house with their aunt (Khala) and cousins. The drama follows their journey as they navigate love, friendship, family dynamics, and the challenges of life.

28. Zoya Sawleha (2017)

Zoya Sualiha and Shehwar, two sisters, lost their father when they were young and are now dependent on their evil uncle for survival.

29. Wafa (2016)

Wafa’s life drastically changes after her father dies, and she resolves to settle her family’s debt. Wafa learns that Shakir has a significant debt load, which the family must pay off to keep the house from going into foreclosure. Wafa sells off a few family possessions to pay back the loan. She meets Daniyal, who gives her father a loan of twenty million rupees. Daniyal is enamored with her beauty and agrees to waive the debt in exchange for a covert marriage.

30. Huqooq Ul Ibad (2021)

An action-packed story of five friends who join to form a crack team of police commandos tackling criminal activities as vigilantes in Quetta, Pakistan.

These best rated Pakistani dramas are known for compelling storytelling, strong performances, and relatable characters.

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