The telethon transmission of Geo TV (that lasted for three-and-a-half hours) with Indian film star Amir Khan and Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan made a great contribution for the cause of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, raising a total of Rs 80 million.

The two chief guests-Amir Khan and Imran Khan-discussed important issues at this unique programme, and a number of people from different countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Dubai, made phone calls and paid glowing tributes to Amir Khan and Imran Khan for their devotion to the cause of treating cancer patients. These telephone callers announced their donations for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.

It appears as if the floodgates have been opened for foreign entertainment and news channels. The last couple of years have seen an invasion by cable channels, which can be seen wherever you go, from restaurants and homes to shops. This is all part of the phenomenon called ‘globalisation’. Pakistani viewers, noticeably, are losing interest in local channels because of the glitz and glamor of the foreign media. It is easy to see that the majority of images beaming out of television sets are of foreign films and shows. Viewers countrywide prefer Indian music, films and Hollywood flicks and this has resulted in the local channels being relegated to the background.

Geo TV has ventured into the reality genre with a show titled George Ka Pakistan. As the concept of the show reveals, Geo follows George, a British, who tries to settle down in Pakistan and become a Pakistani! And to top it all he has only three months to become one.

During the series, George will extensively explore his adopted country and its people, trying to understand the complexities of Pakistani society and to discover what it means to be a Pakistani, all on his own with a strict budget and very little assistance.