# Nijaat

Nijaat (Urdu: نجات, English: Liberation) is an 18-episode 1993 Pakistani television drama serial produced by PTV. The drama shows the different roles of women in Pakistan. Through focusing on the lives of three women, it compares the lot of women in the village and urban life. It emphasizes family planning, ending child labor and initiating community health reforms. PTV Home aired it again from 16 May 2020 daily at 12.00 P.M in PTV Gold Hour.

## Plot

This drama is based on the interwinding stories of three families in a village in Sindh, Pakistan: Zareena, a health worker, and her family; Sajida and Huzoor Bakhsh, who have so many children that Sajida has very poor health; and Ali Asad, an Assistant Commissioner and his wife Tania. The drama follows their hopes and frustrations as they strive for a better future while trying not to sacrifice the past.

## Cast and characters

| Character | Played by | Notes |
| Huzoor Bakhsh | Noman Ijaz | Hunter and later tries to establish a shop. |
| Sajida | Atiqa Odho | Housewife facing maternity and other domestic issues. She helps Tania in her handicrafts (embroidery) institute. |
| Zareena | Huma Nawab | Nurse at the local clinic |
| Ali Asad | Sajid Hasan | Assistant Commissioner (Assistant Commissioner of the Tehsil. Before coming to the village, he was a medical doctor. |
| Tania | Marina Khan | Wife of Assistant Commissioner. Previously, she was a model. |
| Makhdoom | Latif Kapadia | Father of three children, including Zareena. Seen as a character with no consideration of his family. He tried to marry young Kulsoom, in exchange for his daughter Razia for Qadir Baksh. |
| Qadir Bakhsh | Yousuf Ali | Brother of Huzoor Bakhsh. He came from Dubai. He helps set up a shop for his brother. He was involved in criminal smuggling including child smuggling. Typical village man who likes to boast and share his good times with his people. |
| Masi Taqdeera | Salma Zafar | Village match-maker |
| Ustad ji | Malik Anokha | Owner of the local hotel |
| Shafqat | Durdana Butt | She is called Aapa |
| Zehra Khatoon | | Religious preacher |
| Kashi | Sajjad Hassan | Son of Huzoor Bakhsh. He tries to flee the village for the city. He is kidnapped by a criminal mafia in the city which trains him to pick pockets. Later, he ends up on the Qadir Bakhsh's boat with many other children, who are being smuggled to the Middle East. |
| Tari | Emad Hassan | Son of Huzoor Bakhsh |
| Kulsoom | | Sister of Huzoor Bakhsh |
| Razia | | Daughter of Makhdoom |
| Master ji | Nisar Qadri | Teacher at the village school |
| Rasheed | | Compounder (pharmacist) at the village clinic |

## Music

The background score is composed by Arshad Mehmood. The drama features the following songs:

## Social Impact

A study was undertaken to evaluate the social impact of this drama on contract to Johns Hopkins University/Population Communication Services (JHU/PCS) by Aftab Associates (Pvt.) Ltd., Lahore, Pakistan. The support for this study was provided by International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada. The usefulness of findings from qualitative evaluations of 'Nijaat' (and Alang-Alang in Indonesia) has led to further collaborations between JHU/PCS and filmmakers. The screenplay was written by renowned playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed.