With a constant slate of new dramas, Pakistani show industry is a gift that keeps on giving. This year we have already thrilled to see Humayun Saeed and Yumna Zaidi join forces in Gentleman. We waited with bated breath for the series finale of Ishq Murshid (though how well that ending went down with fans is another question entirely). And of course, the much-talked-about series Barzakh, while not technically a Pakistani series, starring show heavyweights Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed, generated a lot of buzz before it was inevitably cancelled.

But given the influence that both actors have in the entertainment industry, a show cancellation is not a problem for either Fawad or Sanam. Their stellar careers will remain unaffected. With both A-listers set to appear in the much-awaited Netflix series ‘Jo Bachain Hain Sang Samait Lo’ – the first Pakistani OTT series to ever hit screens worldwide – the bar has been set very high. As every drama fan knows by now, ‘Jo Bachain Hain Sang Samait Lo’ is slated for a September 2024 release date. ‘Jo Bachain Hain Sang Samait Lo’ promises to be a feast for the eyes for anyone who enjoys watching Pakistan’s celebrated stars at work behind the camera. Besides Fawad and Sanam, we can also expect Hamza Abbasi, Mahira Khan, Ahad Raza Mir, Hania Aamir and Maya Ali – what more could a drama fan ask for? We’re not sure—but with September still tantalizingly close yet far away, let’s take a closer look at some other shows we can binge in the meantime.

Let’s try Mohabbat

Let’s Try Mohabbat hit theaters in May. It stars the always watchable Mawra Hocane as the bubbly Fizza and the handsome Danyal Zafar as Zohan, Fizza’s Romeo and Juliet. The film revolves around love and family relationships and has all the cliches you’d expect from a show centered around Mohabbat. A declaration of love on a sunny (and stunningly clean) beach, a keyboard with a magical power supply and a tongue-in-cheek, detailed timeline detailing exactly when Zohan fell in love with Fiza: this is a show with the perfect mix of cliches and feel-good factor. With a heartwarming soundtrack playing in the background between Zohan and Fiza, Let’s Try Mohabbat lets you get a much-needed dose of feel-good vibes. And if you’re overdosing on sugary sweetness, there’s some exciting family drama between the show’s elders running in the background to shake things up a bit. Is there anything groundbreaking on offer? Not really. But sometimes a little escapism in the daily grind doesn’t hurt.

Zard Patton ka Bunn

Starring doe-eyed Sajal Ali in the role of Blabla alongside the dashing Hamza Sohail, Zard Patton Ka Bunn, which premiered in May, is the show to watch if you can no longer stand the perpetual saas-bahu cliche that floods Pakistani dramas. For anyone looking for a meaningful, non-didactic commentary on women’s education, population control, family planning, patriarchy, maternal health, drug abuse and gender-based violence, this show is it. Add stellar acting and expert storytelling to the mix, and you’ll understand why Zard Patton Ka Bunn is a show that will stay with you.

Sajal’s Meenu takes the reins as the shining star of the show. Meenu is full of ambition and determined to achieve her goals. Her goal is not to be united with the love of her life but to be the first girl in her village to go to university to become a doctor. Meenu is a lovable heroine who is determined to fight against all odds, be it her five brothers or her bike, to get anywhere she needs to go. Can Meenu make it in a world that is against her? Can anyone take her fire away? Watch and find out!