Pakistan is negotiating with Netflix for more space and building its own streaming platform.
The Government of Pakistan is in talks with Netflix and other global streaming platforms to secure a larger and more equitable share of space for Pakistani content. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal announced the move, framing the country’s dramas and films as a growing export and a key part of its national economic strategy under the Uraan Pakistan initiative.
Iqbal said Pakistani dramas and films command strong demand and appreciation across the world, positioning the creative and cultural industry as a cornerstone of the country’s export plans. He said that while major platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime are critical gateways to global audiences, Pakistani content has not been given its due space, and the government is working to change that.
Alongside the negotiations, the minister said the government is developing Pakistan’s own independent streaming platform to showcase local stories to viewers worldwide.
The government’s stated goal is to secure an equitable share of space for Pakistani creators and open sustainable partnership avenues with the streaming giants. Iqbal said the talks aim to adjust the regional framework used by the platforms, which he argued has limited the reach of Pakistani productions.
The push builds on discussions that began in 2025, when Iqbal held a roundtable in Karachi with leading figures from the industry, including director Nadeem Baig, producer Satish Anand, and actress Hina Khawaja Bayat. At that meeting, he described actors, filmmakers, and producers as Pakistan’s soft-power ambassadors, and said they play a vital role in shaping the country’s global image. He noted that although Pakistani dramas are admired internationally, they remain underrepresented on major digital platforms.
Industry figures welcomed the engagement. Director Nadeem Baig called it the first time the government had worked directly with the entertainment industry to address its challenges. Producer Satish Anand said strong content, given proper support, could overcome international barriers. Actress Hina Khawaja Bayat raised the need for regulation within the industry, including timely payments to artists and professionals.
Pakistan’s plan for its own streaming platform
The government’s parallel plan to launch a homegrown streaming service is intended to give Pakistani creators a dedicated space to reach global audiences without relying solely on foreign platforms. Iqbal said the country is not simply waiting for a seat at the table of established services, but is actively developing its own platform to champion Pakistani stories.
The initiative sits within the broader Uraan Pakistan framework, the government’s national economic program that treats exports, technology, and human capital as central pillars. Iqbal has consistently framed the creative industry as an economic asset rather than a purely cultural one, pointing to its potential to earn foreign exchange and boost the wider economy.
He has previously cited China as an example, crediting its rise in global cinema to modern techniques and export-focused strategies that Pakistan could study. He also assured government support to help local creators access global dubbing markets, which would make Pakistani content available to audiences in more languages and regions.
For Pakistan’s entertainment industry, the developments signal a shift toward treating film and television as a formal export sector. The industry has faced challenges in recent years, with only a handful of films released annually and long-standing concerns about regulation and funding. Government backing for global distribution and a dedicated platform could offer new routes to market for producers.
Access to international dubbing markets forms part of the plan. Dubbing Pakistani dramas into other languages would widen their appeal beyond Urdu-speaking and South Asian diaspora audiences, following the path taken by content from countries like Turkey and South Korea. Pakistani dramas already draw significant viewership abroad, particularly across the Middle East, and expanded distribution could build on that base.
The talks with Netflix and other platforms remain ongoing, and the government has not announced a timeline for the proposed national streaming service. Iqbal said the goal is to open sustainable avenues for Pakistani creators and secure lasting international visibility for the country’s stories, positioning the creative industry as a long-term contributor to the national economy.
