KARACHI: Pakistan Film Exhibitors Association and cinema owners have announced to end the self-imposed "temporary suspension" on screening of Indian films from Monday, December 19.
Speaking to media, Pakistan Film Exhibitors Association chairman Zoraish Lashari said that the decision has been taken after meticulous talks with the associated people.
"The cinema owners and other stakeholders in the industry have been hit by the decision to impose a temporary suspension on screening of Indian films. A lot of investment has been made into upgrading or building new cineplexes and multiplexes and the business at this time is dependent on screening of latest Indian films," he said.
The chairman emphasised that it was a suspension, and not a ban, and explained that local businesses are quite heavily reliant on Indian cinema. Pakistan is the third-largest contributor to Bollywood revenue.
The association comprises owners of multiplexes, cineplexes, and single-screen cinemas around Pakistan. It made the move to suspend Indian movies' screening as a retaliatory action when Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA) banned Pakistani film work and people in India amid escalating tensions over border issues between the two neighbouring countries.
As Indian films' screening resumes in Pakistan and deals are made with the Indian distributors for future movies, Lashari said that the first screenings for now will be of unreleased Indian projects.
As per a marketing manager of a local cinema chain, 75 percent of the industry's income comes from Indian movies.
No comments:
Post a Comment