16th PTV Awards ceremony honours artists

Upholding its tradition of recognizing outstanding artists of the nation and nurturing creative talent in performing arts, the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) held a glitzy show at the Jinnah Convention Centre on Saturday night for the 16th PTV National Awards ceremony.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was chief guest on the occasion while a multitude of other important personalities such as federal ministers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, ambassadors, diplomats, showbiz icons, PTV personnel and a number of art lovers from different segments of the society were also in attendance.
The arrangements inside the hall were very satisfactory and the show was well managed. The only problem was that a large number of people had been denied entry as they had brought their children along.
Pakistan Today learned from a PTV official that many artists and journalists were not invited to attend the ceremony as entry passes had finished a month prior to the event. Interestingly, half the seats inside the Convention Centre remained empty. When asked why this was so despite entry passes having finished a whole month prior to the event, the official refused to comment.
The grand ceremony was hosted by a number of artists in pairs, including Reema Khan, and Umar Sharif, Babra Sharif, and Naeem Bukhari, and Bushra Ansari and others. Musical performances by local singers took place as well.
The best actor and actress awards for the year 2011 went to Sami Khan for drama serial ‘Ghar Ki Khatir’ and Saba Qamar for drama serial ‘Tinkay’. Prime Minister Gilani presented the award to Qamar while Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Firdaus Ashiq Awan presented Khan’s award.
About 15 awards in various categories were distributed during the show, including the categories of best supporting actor, best supporting actress, best drama serial, best actor in a private drama, best actress in a private drama, best compere of the year, best light singer, best music producer, best villain in a drama serial, best playwright, best pop music band, and best producer, among others.
Talking to Pakistan Today, playwright Farheen Chaudhary complained that although she had been nominated in the best playwright category, her nomination was removed at the eleventh hour. “I have been tolerating PTV’s callous attitude for 12 years and to protest, I have stopped writing for PTV. What they have just done to me is extremely unjust,” she lamented.
Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Gilani said that the government is aware of the important contribution of artists in the fields of art and culture, and will ensure that they are given properly recognized and supported. “The present government will support artists in every way,” promised Gilani. The prime minister was also highly appreciative of PTV for boosting the country’s soft image at home and abroad through its various programmes such as dramas, music shows and other information and news programmes.
Gilani added that PTV has made important contributions to the dissemination of information and the promotion of art and culture through healthy entertainment programmes, and is rightly described as a ‘family channel’.
The prime minister also was appreciative of the fact that PTV did not spread despondency, but rather created hope among the viewers even during these hard times. The prime minister said various renowned artists had started their career from PTV. He was also of the view that there was no parallel to PTV dramas, which were internationally renowned. Recalling his days of imprisonment, the prime minister said he used to watch PTV and became very fond of it.