Pakistani singer Tanveer Afridi has explained why songs by some major artists rarely appear on the reality show Pakistan Idol.

 

Speaking in a recent discussion, Afridi said that copyright restrictions prevent the show from featuring certain songs.

 

“Pakistan Idol definitely has restrictions on some songs because we do not have their copyrights,” he said.

 

Afridi pointed out that the cost of licensing some songs remains too high for the production. He specifically mentioned the fee required to cover Atif Aslam's songs. 

 

“The price for Atif Aslam’s songs was so high that we could have made another Pakistan Idol with that money,” he said.

 

Afridi stressed that artists have every right to decide the value of their work. “He is a big artist. It is his right to ask for whatever fee he wants,” Afridi said.

 

Pakistan Idol returned to television in 2025 after more than a decade. The show airs on Geo TV and brings back the global Idol franchise format for Pakistani audiences.

 

The judging panel for the latest season includes Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Fawad Khan, Zeb Bangash, and Bilal Maqsood. The show features contestants from across the country competing for the title of Pakistan’s next singing star.