Saad Sultan Goraya

Meet Saad Sultan Goraya, who sees comedy as more than just making people laugh. With a background in theatre, he understands how writing, culture, and everyday experiences come together to create humour. In conversation with AE Magazine, he discusses Pakistan’s evolving stand-up comedy scene, the struggles of emerging comedians, and what it will take to give comedy the space it deserves.

1. What first drew you to comedy?

Growing up, I was surrounded by children who played pranks and classmates who were always up to something. I think that is where my interest in humour began. Since childhood, I have enjoyed having fun and creating a little mischief.

2. How has theatre shaped your comedy?

Stand-up comedy is an extension of my experience in theatre. Both rely heavily on writing, and my work in theatre helped me understand how jokes are constructed and how humour develops.

3. How would you describe the current state of stand-up comedy in Pakistan?

Honestly, the current situation is not very encouraging. We still lack a proper system, and there are very few investors or sponsors. The support that exists is limited, and stand-up comedy receives very little visibility compared with other art forms.

However, awareness has grown over the past year. Some comedians have gained popularity online, and we have started receiving more work. Still, this is only a glimpse of what the scene could become. We are far from reaching our full potential.

4. Are there enough platforms for emerging comedians?

No, there are very few established platforms for stand-up comedy in Pakistan. At present, opportunities depend largely on personal connections and whom you know. If an opportunity comes your way, you get to perform; otherwise, you may have to wait.

India’s stand-up comedy scene has grown because people in many cities are familiar with the art form, platforms are available, and there are many comedians. This allows performers to earn a living even if they are not widely famous. Pakistan still needs to develop a similar support system.

5. What makes Pakistani humour unique?

I cannot define Pakistani humour in one particular way, but our cultural diversity provides plenty of material for comedy. Our interactions, differences, and everyday situations often create humour.

For example, the dynamics between Punjabis and Pashtuns, the contrast between Urdu and English, and differences in economic class can all become subjects for comedy. We live in a vibrant society with many such experiences. At the same time, we are going through difficult circumstances, and that reality cannot be ignored.

6. Which Pakistani comedians do you admire?

I would mention Faheem Azam, Tabish Hashmi, Abbas Bukhari, Taimoor Saleem Abbasi, Rao Mubeen, and Umar Tariq, among others. They are doing good work in Lahore and Islamabad, and I believe they are contributing to the stand-up comedy scene. Some are established performers, while others have promising futures.

7. What needs to change to support the next generation of comedians?

I would focus on writing, not just within stand-up comedy but across the comedy industry. We have very few workshops or formal programmes that teach creative writing at the school and college levels.

Our education system places so much emphasis on examinations and structured writing that students rarely get the opportunity to think creatively. We need to help young people develop their ideas, think outside the box, and build their creative writing skills.

8. How do you see Pakistani stand-up comedy evolving in the next five to ten years?

I cannot predict exactly how the scene will develop, but I believe there is considerable potential. The growing awareness and online popularity we are seeing are encouraging signs. However, meaningful growth will require better platforms, greater investment, more visibility, and stronger support for creative writing. What we are seeing today is only a glimpse of what Pakistani stand-up comedy could become.

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