The Punjab government has not given the go-ahead to the screening of Hollywood movie Barbie in the province despite issuance of no objection certificate by the Punjab Film Censor Board.
Barbie’s box-office debut began in parts of Asia, including Pakistan, on July 21. The movie was halted in theatres across Punjab for containing ‘objectionable’ content.
A censor board official told media on condition of anonymity that the board had briefly watched the movie and removed the ‘objectionable’ content.
He said the distributors also agreed to remove the ‘objectionable’ material from the film. He said the board had allowed the screening in the province, adding the theatres had also launched advertisements to play the movie but the Punjab government had stopped the screening.
He said the board had nothing to do with the restriction. The Lahore Cue, Cine Star, Universal Cinemas had shows listed for the movie. One of the cinemas had advertised to play the movie and also sold tickets.
However, the district administration along with police had conducted raids at the theatre and stopped the movie in the middle. The theatre administration had to refund all the tickets.
Punjab Information secretary Ali Nawaz Malik told this reporter that the government had banned the screening in the province. “The Punjab Film Censor Board had given the certificate to screen the movie in theatres but the government had stopped the screening on public complaints,” he said.
