People began asking whether it was truly a romantic entertainment program or a potential threat to our culture and religion.
The show has been introduced by well-known actress Ayesha Omar, previously seen in popular comedy serials like Bulbulay and in Ramadan religious transmissions. But this time, she’s hosting a reality show in which four men and four women live together in a mansion, go on dates, and are constantly filmed by cameras.
While this concept is new for Pakistani audiences, it is actually inspired by Western programs such as Love Island and Love Is Blind . Many people are criticizing it as a copy of foreign culture.
Ayesha Omar insists that the show has been designed with Pakistani cultural values in mind, but social media reactions suggest otherwise. Critics argue that if this is what our culture now represents, then we should remove words like modesty and decency from our dictionary.
Legal experts are also questioning whether such shows comply with Pakistani law.
According to PEMRA’s Code of Conduct 2015, no content can be broadcast that is obscene or un-Islamic. However, PEMRA clarified that Lazawal Ishq will not air on television but rather on digital platforms like YouTube, and therefore does not fall under their jurisdiction.
The show’s title has also sparked controversy. The word Ishq holds deep religious significance , often used to describe love for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. Many believe using such a sacred term for a dating show is disrespectful.
Religious scholars have commented that modesty (haya) is an essential part of faith, but the show portrays modesty as an outdated concept, rejecting it in the name of modernity.
Social media reactions are deeply divided . One group argues that “the world has changed and we should normalize such content—it’s just entertainment, while the other group claims it’s not entertainment but indecency that could mislead the younger generation.
The debate isn’t limited to the internet—it’s also happening in homes and social gatherings. Hashtags like **#BoycottLazawalIshq** and **#ProtectOurCulture** are trending on Twitter and Facebook. Many people are demanding that such entertainment, which they believe undermines cultural and religious values, be stopped.
Several critics say that if Pakistan’s entertainment industry truly wants to progress, it should create content that promotes our culture, ethics, and family values, rather than imposing Western trends.
In the end, one question remains:
Has success and happiness for our youth become only about the glamour seen on screens—or do we still believe that character, knowledge, and modesty are the true measures of success?
