Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Sunday that revolutionary steps were being taken to implement the vision and directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to promote the country’s culture and heritage and its narrative through screen tourism.
She said this while addressing a ceremony after performing ground breaking of the site for cinema and inauguration of Classical Musical Research Cell, Digital Broadcast Training Lab and Podcast Studio here at the Radio Pakistan.
She said that through using platforms like Pakistan Television, Radio Pakistan, Lok Virsa and Pakistan National Council of Arts, the people especially, the youth could be connected with the country’s heritage.
She said that infotainment and entertainment were highly required for people especially the younger generation because during the last four years, hatred and intolerance had been promoted in the country.
Marriyum said that it was a high time when people and especially youngsters should be provided an alternative through which they could engage themselves in positive activities.
She said that in 2017 and 2018, a foundation of the country’s first culture policy and film policy was laid, adding that implementation of the policy was started in the 2018 budget which was given by PML-N government.
She said that unfortunately during the last four years, all institutions were ruined, PTV sports was handed over to A-Sports just to deteriorate the department and auction it later.
The minister said that for the first time, slogan was raised in the Parliament to auction PTV and Radio Pakistan buildings and these organizations. She said that those behind such slogans did not know the significance of national brodcasters and the country’s heritage. The governments in the past had not patronized the filmmakers, artists, writers, producers, distributors and cinema owners, she added.
She said “Film policy is part of our legislation to promote the country’s narrative through screen tourism.”
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that tax incentives were available for filmmakers, producers, actors, distributors, cinemas and this would help in producing more films and promoting the country’s soft image.
She further said that culture and film policies were introduced when the country was fighting the war on terror adding that as it was the only tool through which the country’s image could be improved globally.
She said that setting up of cinemas in Radio Pakistan and PTV premises was aimed at providing affordable entertainment access to the people, especially the classes with meager income. Cinema screens facility will be started at 26 spots not only in main cities but in interior Sindh, interior Punjab and south Punjab, she said.
