KARACHI – Actor and comedian Ahmad Ali Butt has joined a growing chorus of Pakistani entertainment figures condemning the industry’s widespread habit of delaying payments to artists. Speaking on Instagram, Butt stated flatly that “late payment is an industry standard,” claiming production houses, television channels, and sponsors typically operate on 60-to-90‑day payment cycles, which are seldom honored .
He lamented that few producers pay on time, forcing performers to repeatedly “beg for your money, and that too in installments.” Butt jokingly added that creatives should “work for YouTube,” where one can be their own boss and avoid such chasing.
His comments follow similar complaints from veteran actor Mohammed Ahmed and director Mehreen Jabbar. Jabbar recently noted in a high-profile interview that in the US there is a fixed payment schedule, but in Pakistan, artists often have to “chase payments like beggars”. Ahmed echoed this frustration, saying except for one or two, most production houses delay payments by three to four months—even after persistent requests.
They highlighted how such delays place significant strain on artists, particularly in an environment where financial planning is essential amid rising living costs. Butt and his peers argue that timely payment is not a luxury—it’s a necessity to sustain the creative workforce .
Key Takeaways:
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Late payments of 60–90 days are common and routinely unmet.
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Artists are often forced to chase their dues multiple times.
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A few production houses are reliable, but most are not.
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The issue affects financial stability and morale for creatives.
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Some now recommend alternative, self-sustaining models like YouTube.
This trend has sparked calls for structural reform in the industry’s billing and payment practices, pushing for transparency and discipline to support Pakistan’s creative community.
