Pakistani film industry should focus on Chinese, Turkish and Saudi Arabian markets: Information Minister
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain is being Presented with memento during the Pakistan International Film Festival in Karachi on 12th June 2021
Karachi: Pakistani Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has urged the Pakistani film industry to focus on the Chinese, Turkish and the Saudi Arabian markets.
Addressing the Pakistan International Film Festival (PIFF) – Women Edition here as chief guest, he said China undoubtedly had a huge market. “I urge the people belonging to film industry to focus on the film markets of China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia,” he remarked.
He added: “China and Turkey are open to Pakistan. Saudi Arabia is also about to establish 2000 cinemas which is a great opportunity for Pakistani film industry to avail.”
The minister said the government would provide conducive environment which was must for the revival of Pakistani film industry. Chaudhry also shed light on the history of causes which led to the downfall of film industry in Pakistan. He said that the society had been remained male dominant in the past but now the situation was changing.
The minister announced that the federal government would soon launch a film policy for the revival of film industry with the provision of due incentives. “Electricity billing category of cinemas would be converted from commercial to industrial, besides taxes would be waived off to give relief to investors. The government is offering loans of up to Rs 50 million for film-makers within the age limit of 45 years,” he said.
Chaudhry also announced establishment of four institutions including media technology university, film school, institution for performing arts and school for modern journalism to boost the film industry.
He emphasized upon universities which were offering mass communication discipline to upgrade their syllabi as per the modern world. In the past, he said that the most of the jobs needed physical strength while now technology had made every job easier due to which women could also perform better.
Earlier, panelists of PIFF in their discussion lauded the government’s efforts for the revival of film industry in the country.
The panelists were of the common view that the imposition of smart lockdowns under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan was a brilliant idea to save the economy of the country from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The panelists included former federal minister Javed Jabbar, President Karachi Film Society Sultana Siddiqui and others prominent figures of the film industry.
