Pakistani cinema
(Syeda Farwa Kazmi, Karachi)
THE road map for reviving
Pakistani cinemas as detailed by Mr Hasan Zaidi (“On reviving cinema in
Pakistan”, April 16) is not only commendable and thought provoking but also very
reasonable. His suggestions of importing films from India, with financing
from banks registered with the State Bank of Pakistan, seed money for script
development, tax relief of five to 10 years to new cinema houses, holding of
international film festivals, establishing international grade training
institutes and promoting joint productions ventures should be considered by
policy makers in the ministries of culture and finance if they really want to
improve the image of Pakistan.
Regarding the import of films from India, I would like to add that based on the
number of commercial cinema houses operating in India and Pakistan, a policy
should be drafted according to which for the first five years or so the
ratio of import and export of films from and to India should be one to ten ——
that is, against the import of one film from India at least 10 films
should be exported from Pakistan. This way the Pakistan film industry will not
be swept aside by Indian films.