Shamoon Abbasi says Pakistan’s entertainment industry must improve its technical standards instead of blaming global streaming platforms for the limited international reach of local productions.
Pakistan’s entertainment industry is facing renewed debate after actor, director and producer Shamoon Abbasi challenged claims that international streaming platforms are unwilling to accept Pakistani content. Instead, he argued that the industry’s biggest obstacle is its own technical shortcomings.
The discussion began after reports claimed a leading global streaming platform had shown interest in Pakistani productions, but the proposal was reportedly declined in favour of developing a local over-the-top (OTT) platform. Shamoon dismissed the narrative, saying the focus should be on raising production standards rather than assigning blame.
According to the veteran actor, Pakistan has an abundance of talented actors, writers and directors, but many productions fail to meet the technical benchmarks required by international platforms. He highlighted weaknesses in colour grading, sound design, post-production, visual quality and overall production values.
Shamoon said compelling storytelling alone is no longer sufficient in the global streaming era. He stressed that audiences worldwide expect polished productions that combine strong narratives with high-end technical execution.
While supporting the development of local OTT platforms, he said they should complement not replace the goal of reaching global audiences. He urged producers, broadcasters and filmmakers to invest in modern production technology, advanced editing and professional training to improve the international competitiveness of Pakistani dramas and films.
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