Aslam Azhar – The CAP Podcast #32

Mr. Aslam Azhar is a renowned broadcaster who was the founding director of PTV in 1964 and managed the organization for nearly two decades. However, theater has been remained his lifelong passion. In conversation with The Citizens Archive of Pakistan, he reminisces about the time when their passion for theater took them to the streets of Karachi to raise awareness about social issues.

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.

Background and family

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.

He had a son, Arieb Azhar, who is a musician.

He died on 29 December 2015 at the age of 83. His funeral was performed on 30 Dec 2015 at Islamabad,Pakistan.