No change in policy for Indian films import

islamabad — Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has said the government has decided to maintain the present policy regarding the import of Indian cinematograph films.

The minister, in a statement, said the decision has been taken after reviewing the benefits Pakistani cinema trade can derive from the exhibition of Indian films and in order to develop, strengthen and enhance the local productions.

She said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had, however, constituted a committee to review the challenges and issues being confronted by the local film industry. The committee invited the stakeholders, including leading artists, producers, exhibitors and distributors to get a broader view of the situation, she added. After a close examination of historical and empirical data including the trends of the industry since 1965 till date, it is evident that the inclusion of all foreign content, including Indian film content in local cinemas, have a multiplier impact on the commerce and development of the Pakistani film trade and industry as a whole, the information minister emphasised. Marriyum Aurangzeb said the investment plans of the local film industry, especially of the cinema owners and film exhibitors for producing local films, were also reviewed.

She said the insight gained from an exhaustive review concluded that the Pakistani film industry has been revived and strengthened after the resumption of import of Indian cinematographic films into the country in 2007.

To support the local film industry by including other foreign content into the pool of Pakistani cinema, a policy is being reviewed to promote the soft image of the country as the local film trade is on the verge of take-off after witnessing strides in the last 6 years after the resumption of import of Indian films in 2007, she said.

She said that the committee also reviewed the SOPs of the Central Board of Film Censors and decided that the present censorship mechanism should further be reviewed to have overseeing on the foreign films to be exhibited in the local cinema houses.