ISPR and Humayun Saeed announced their new project Sinf-e-Aahan, which includes some of Pakistan’s leading female talent: Sajal Aly, Yumna Zaidi, Syra Yousuf, Kubra Khan & Ramsha Khan in leading roles. Samina and Humayun Saeed will produce in association with ISPR, as announced by Saeed in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

“Presenting the women of steel,” Saeed wrote in the caption, including details about the cast and crew of the show, who were clad in colours of the Pakistani flag.

Nadeem Baig will direct the show; he has worked with Saeed previously on the hit show Meray Paas Tum Ho. Baig also tweeted the news.

The show’s writer, Umera Ahmed, is also an author known for writing hit series including Zindagi Gulzaar Hai and web series Dhoop Ki Dewaar which stars real life couple Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir. While Mir has previously starred in ISPR television series Ehd-e-Wafa, this is Aly’s first project with the communications wing of the military establishment.

While Ehd-e-Wafa was based on themes including friendship and hardships, Sinf-e-Aahan will focus on women empowerment, according to Saeed.

“Introducing the dynamic and brilliantly talented cast of our upcoming drama serial Sinf-e-Aahan - a project that is based on the extremely important and needed subject of women empowerment,” he stated in his Instagram post.

ISPR has produced dramas that reflect on the lives of individuals associated with the Pakistan Army, especially for civilian awareness. The 1991 series Sunehray Din and its 1998 sequel Alpha Bravo Charlie were centred on the lives of cadets of the Pakistan Army, the latter also tackling with the involvement of Pakistan in the Bosnian War and Siachen conflict.

Sinf-e-Aahan will be the first ISPR drama series to be based exclusively on women empowerment, however it is not the first project to cast a woman in the leading role. The 2016 biographical film Ek Thi Marium, also written by Umera Ahmad, was based on the life of Marium Mukhitar, a Pakistani fighter pilot. Sanam Baloch was cast in the titular role.

Twitter was abuzz about this new project.

The casting choices were also commended, especially Yumna Zaidi, who was praised for her performance in series like Dar Si Jaati Hai Sila and the current Dil Na Umeed To Nahin.