news details |
|
|
| Pak cinema hall owners stir demanding import of Indian films | | | Lahore, Mar 15
Cinema hall owners across Pakistan are observing a month-long agitation, beginning today, against the federal government's policies harming their interests.
One of the major demands of the Pakistan cinema owners is the lifting of the ban on Indian movies for a limited time to allow the cinema industry to bounce back.
The other demands include shutting down of the illegal channels (VCD and DVD channels) being operated by cable operators, and ensuring that only the Pemra's approved channels are shown on Cable TV.
Announcing the schedule of the strike here last evening, the Pakistan Film Exhibitors' Association said that the strike had been called because of the fact that the present government had harmed the cinema industry.
Office bearers of the Association, said that the cinema industry was facing a severe crisis and was on the verge of shut down.
Chairman of the Association for Punjab and NWFP, Jehan Zaib Baig said that since last five years, the government of Pakistan had started giving licences for cable operators in Pakistan, and that these operators were violating PEMRA rules by broadcasting channels that are not allowed by authority.
Due to extreme shortage of locally produced films, the cinemas are shutting down at an alarming rate in Pakistan and those which are still working are running on less then a 5 percent attendance, the Daily Times quoted him as saying.
As a mark of protest against non-fulfilment of their demands by the Pakistan Government, cinema owners across Pakistan would start observing a token strike of one day per week from March 15, for three weeks.
Pakistan's cinema industry continues to face a crisis that is worsening day by day as number of productions from Lollywood continue to go down, added the paper.
Recently, a two-member delegation of Pakistan Film Exhibitors Association (PFEA) had called on Federal Secretary for Culture Saleem Gul Sheikh and also had meetings with other high officials including Chairman Pakistan Film Censor Board Azfar Shafqat.
The delegation, comprising President of PFEA Jehanzeb Baig and head of Mandviwalla Entertainment Co. Nadeem Mandviwalla, put forward seven demands, including shutting down the illegal channels (VCD and DVD channels) being operated by cable operators and ensuring that only the Pemra's approved channels are shown on Cable TV.
PFEA has called for lifting of the ban on Indian movies for a limited time to allow the cinema industry to bounce back and amendments to be made in the Cinematography Act. Other demands include introduction of industrial electricity tariff for cinemas, five-year tax holiday on new multiplex cinemas and end of excise duty on cinemas all over the country. Currently only the Punjab province has ended excise duty on cinema business.
'It is desperate situation for us as cinemas across the country are closing down due to lack of business. We don't have any product to show to the people. Last year only about 24 films were made. How can you run the cinemas when there is nothing new to be screened. Now before May no new film is in pipeline for release. How do you meet the expenses of running the cinema? You have to pay salaries to your staff and bear all the bills and taxes. It is high time the government made a move to save the box office,' Jehanzeb, who is also owner of Plaza cinema, said. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
