Drama, film & digital media best platforms to promote Pakistan’s image: Fawad 

Dubai: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Saturday said that drama, film and digital media were the best platforms to portray and promote image of a country in the world.

While addressing the inaugural ceremony of screening of Pakistani films at Dubai Expo 2020 here, the federal minister said that Pakistan used to be the third largest film maker in the world in 1960s. 

“Pakistan was the second country in the world which had big cinema houses,” he added.

The film industry and cinemas in Pakistan have not received much attention since the 1970s, the Minister maintained.

The industry was in decline due to lack of proper attention in the past, he said adding that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had taken steps to revive the film and drama industry in the country.

“The government had reduced electricity tariffs of the cinemas in the country,” he pointed out.

Moreover the ruling government has also taken steps to revive the film industry and all taxes on the film industry have been abolished.

“Taxes had been imposed on foreign content to encourage local production houses,” said minister.

Fawad further added that tax had been imposed on foreign dramas so that Pakistani artists can work in dramas and advertisements.

Appreciating the Pakistan Pavilion in Dubai Expo, the information Minister said that films presented there were for the international audience. 

Moreover, Minister for Information Chaudhry Fawad cut the ribbon for screening films in Pakistan Pavilion and actor Ali Zafar and actress Hareem Farooq were also present for the screening. 

The opening ceremony was attended by a large number of Pakistanis residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In Expo 2020, Pakistan has been promoting its cinema by screening its blockbuster films and total of 11 Pakistani films would be screened in the Pakistan Pavilion every Friday and Saturday till February 26.