“Pay people on time. They’ll be happier.”
Pakistani celebrities are raising their voices against delayed payments and exploitative practices in the country’s entertainment industry.
The issue resurfaced after veteran actor Syed Mohammed Ahmed and director Mehreen Jabbar publicly criticised the industry’s broken payment system.
Several celebrities, including Osman Khalid Butt, Ali Hussain, and Saad Qureshi, have echoed their frustration.
In a recent Instagram post, Butt shared Ahmed’s video and recalled how he also had to chase payments months after finishing projects.
He revealed that 60-to-90-day payment clauses are common in contracts. However, those are rarely honoured.
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He wrote: “Some production houses and sponsors make you beg for your dues, and that too in instalments.
The actor urged artists to find independence through platforms like YouTube, which he himself now uses.
Ali Hussain addressed the problem in light of model and actress Humaira Asghar Ali’s sudden death in Karachi.
He posted a story urging audiences and stakeholders to care about struggling artists while they’re still alive.
Hussain added: “Pay people on time. They’ll be happier.”
Saad Qureshi also weighed in, responding to people who wonder why many actors disappear from TV.
He explained that many simply cannot tolerate the disrespect.
Qureshi said: “I’d rather not act than beg for dues or tolerate power trips.”
The conversation follows Mehreen Jabbar’s recent interview, where she called the system “deeply flawed” and “unprofessional”.
Jabbar, known for Ek Jhooti Love Story, criticised how payments can be delayed indefinitely without consequence.
She pointed out that the problem affects the entire set, not just actors but also technicians, crew members, and spot boys.
With no unions or legal safeguards, many in the industry remain vulnerable.
In a video, Syed Mohammed Ahmed candidly addressed the issue, saying:
“Except for one or two companies, nobody pays on time.”
Waiting three to four months for payments is considered the standard.
Ahmed spoke of the humiliation actors face when asking for their rightful earnings.
He said they often have to explain their financial difficulties just to get noticed.
Ahmed stated: “We really have to kill our egos. But actors are not beggars.”
He also criticised the hypocrisy of being overworked on exhausting schedules, only to be ignored afterwards when it’s time to pay.
The issue isn’t new. In 2024, Duniyapur stars Ramsha Khan and Khushhal Khan spoke about the same problem.
Nadia Afgan also opened up about producers who never cleared her dues.
In a podcast with Something Haute, she revealed she keeps a “black book” of people she won’t work with again.
Afgan said newer actors often enter the field without questioning these norms, which allows the exploitative cycle to continue.
Many Pakistani celebrities are now urging the industry to create enforceable contracts and legal protections that apply to everyone on a set.
Without reform, they fear the culture of delayed payments and disrespect will remain the norm.
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