For once, please stop using the Indian film industry as a benchmark for comparison. It’s really pathetic to always see your own industry through their prism. They have a totally different set of dynamics in play that govern their films that may not apply to Pakistan – the cultural environment, the proclivity of the masses for arts, affinity for foreign cultures etc.
Its really quite simple – good stories with engaging, involving screenplays that connect with the audience, adequately shot and acted in, with decent technological back up will always attract masses. It happened with Khuda Ke Liye and to a lesser extent with Zibahkhana.
The problem with Pakistani films is that they are** NOT** engaging enough – they have never been – they employ far too many plot-distracting and destroying tools.
You can have an occasional totally non-engaging/film with a threadbare script which may become a “hit” (case in point being Yeh Dil Aap ka Huwa) but eventually the audience does see through and clones that were made subsequently (Khullay Asmaan Ke Neeche, Pyar hi Pyar Mein, Tere Bin Jiya Na Jaye, Pehla Pehla Pyaar) bombed though they **all **had beautiful songs just as well shot like Yeh Dil but completely banal storylines and non existential screenplays like that film as well.
So yes, they need to have really good storylines and competent actors backed by an adequate technical infrastructure if they ever want the audiences to watch their movies. Cinema and film are no longer a novelty like the 50s or 60s when Pakistani films worked despite their placid story lines and weak technicalities.