LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government would continue to take steps to revive the film industry and bring back its glory of the decades of 1960s and 1970s.
He was speaking at a ceremony to formally release film, music and Pakistan Radio archive policies and distribute health cards and awards among film and television stars. The initiatives were aimed at the revival of the film industry in Pakistan.
He assured that the incoming caretaker government would also fully support the film and drama industry. He said the government announced various tax exemption initiatives and incentives to revive the film industry.
He called on the artist community to form a committee and come up with suggestions to further promote the film industry.
He lauded artists, writers, poets, producers, directors and musicians for serving the film and television industry well for decades with their impressive contributions, enriching the Pakistani culture and heritage. “The musicians created ever-living music and artists produced masterpieces.”
He stressed that the glorious period of decades from the 1950s to the 1980s should be brought back as it gave recognition to Pakistani films, dramas and music across the border and all over the world.
He said culture was the beauty of any society and artists make it flourish and grow. He appreciated the production team of the new film Moula Jatt for their tremendous effort to produce a quality film. He praised veteran bureaucrat Kamran Lashari for his endeavours in the past to revive the cultural heritage of Lahore.
He also recognised the efforts of former minister for information and broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb for the restoration of the film and drama industry and for the welfare of the artist community.
The prime minister launched an application carrying 75 years of archives of Pakistan Radio and a book on the film industry of Pakistan. Governor Punjab Balighur Rehman attended the ceremony.
Marriyum Aurangzeb in her remarks told about the legislation and tax exemptions for the film industry. She said the tax on cinemas has been abolished and after 27 years PTV has changed the fee structure of artists and brought it to market price.
She said the custom duty has been reduced to zero on importing film-making equipment. She added that all the countries are promoting tourism through film and screen. She said the legislation regarding the film policy had been completed in 2022.
