Dawn Images

Ayesha Omar is set to host Lazawaal Ishq (Eternal Love), in what appears to be a reality dating show that marks a first for Urdu-speaking audiences worldwide. Based on Turkish reality TV show Aşk Adasi, the show will premiere on YouTube and introduce Pakistani viewers to a format that has been popular around the world for a while.

Speaking exclusively to Images from Istanbul where she is stationed for five weeks, Omar described the project as “a first of its kind for Pakistani and Urdu-speaking viewers worldwide”.

“I will not reveal much right now, but the show has Pakistani participants, boys and girls that you can spot in the promo,” she said. “There’ll be a lot happening because it’s all about love, and there will be a winning couple. This is based on a hit reality show that has been adapted into many languages and filmed for various audiences. For its Urdu iteration, they needed an Urdu-speaking host, and I’m really grateful I was selected from many candidates.”

While international audiences are no strangers to high-stakes romance shows like The Bachelor (which first aired in 2002 and has since spawned dozens of spin-offs) or Love Island (arguably one of the UK’s biggest television exports), Pakistani contestants haven’t had the opportunity for a dating show of their own.

In Lazawaal Ishq, contestants — the promo introduces four men and four women — will live together in a villa, their every move captured on camera. Over the course of 100 episodes, they will navigate challenges, games, alliances and rivalries, all while attempting to find love.

A final “winning couple” will be crowned, echoing the competitive structures of its international counterparts. “You get to follow their journey, see the bonds form, watch the tensions rise, and see who ultimately makes it as the winning couple,“ Omar said.

The teaser for Lazawaal Ishq sets the tone with sweeping visuals of the Bosphorus. Omar is seen cruising across the sea before stepping into the show’s grand villa — a luxurious house with a pool, where participants will live together throughout the series.

She told viewers, “In the search for true love, our participants will spend all their time in this beautiful house. Every interaction of theirs will be recorded on cameras. These participants will engage in games and, through challenges, get to know each other better. The winning couple will be handsomely rewarded.”

The promo then cuts to the eight participants arriving with their suitcases, ready to test their luck in love.

The Turkish version of the show, Aşk Adası, has already been adapted for Persian (Eshghe Abadi) and Arabic (Qesma w Naseeb) speaking audiences.

With its mix of glossy production, Turkish landscapes and Pakistani contestants, Lazawaal Ishq will attempt to do for Urdu-speaking audiences what Love Island did for the British public: merge romance, spectacle and drama into a binge-worthy summer staple.