Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb said it is imperative to use the modern and creative medium of films to promote culture, heritage and screen tourism.

The minister made these remarks during a meeting with Punjab government spokesperson Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan in Islamabad. The two sides discussed the films and broadcasting policy and the package announced by the PM for revival of the film industry.

The Pakistan entertainment fraternity has been trying to get the support from the government for a while now and now finally, the Prime minister has answered the industry’s prayers by announcing, on Wednesday, a film finance fund to support the entertainment industry of Pakistan, this will enable writers, poets and the film and broadcasting industry to utilize new and better equipped studios which are in line with international standards.

He also announced the creation of the National Film and Broadcasting Commission, and National Film Institute and Academy plus an Artist’s Welfare Fund that would help provide concession to foreign filmmakers if they sought to incorporate our cultural and historical tourist’s spots.

Marriyum said the package also included a fund for the welfare of artists, besides featuring concessions like reduction in financial rules and tax exemptions for filmmakers.

The minister said a heinous attempt was made in the past years to distort the real face of Pakistan through the demon of terrorism. “Our culture was suppressed, and regrettable efforts were unleashed to generate negative mindset in the country,” she added.

According to Marriyum, removing despondency from the minds of the people and turning it into a vibrant hope is one of the top priorities of the PML-N government, and revival of the film industry could play a significant role in neutralizing the negative tendencies.

Although a majority of the entertainment industry has expressed relief and joy over the PM’s decision, including several cinema directors and officials who feel that the government has taken a step in the right direction with this well planned strategy and are glad that more investment will mean more screens being opened up however, many are still doubtful of exactly how much implementation will take place by the government including filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat, comparing it to the decline of PTV, who had this to say: “I am quite happy about it. I feel these kinds of steps are necessary. Indie or parallel cinemas are developed because of such initiatives across the world,” he said. “But at the same time, I am fearful about its implementation.”

The Manto director believed the government needed to prioritize investing in the film industry above everything else, stressing on the importance of  training budding new filmmakers who will produce good quality content rather than just producing film after pointless film.