Through screen tourism, we can promote our culture and social values, Federal Information Minister address at the MoU signing ceremony of Naqsh Digital Film.
The Federal Minister of Information congratulated the entire team of Fatima Jinnah Women University for the successful launch of “Naqsh Digital Film” program. She said that promotion of the film industry is one of our top priorities.
Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Maryam Aurangzeb has stressed the need to promote screen tourism in the country and said that screen tourism has gained an important place worldwide, through screen tourism we can not only tell their story but also promote their culture and social values.
She expressed these views while addressing the signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding between PTV Film and Fatima Jinnah Women University for “Naqsh Digital Film” here on Wednesday. The Federal Minister of Information said that unfortunately the film industry of Pakistan faced very difficult conditions, in the 60s, Pakistan was a big country in terms of film production in South Asia as well as the largest film industry compared to its neighboring country. It was a major producer country.
Maryam Aurangzeb said that due to less employment opportunities in the film industry, students in Pakistan generally do not pursue this degree. She said that for the promotion of the film industry, the government of Pakistan has reduced the tax on the film industry to zero, there is no tax on the income from film making in Pakistan.
The Federal Information Minister said that the Government of Pakistan is creating a “Film Finance Fund” in which young filmmakers will have easy access. She said that through this fund, grants will be provided to the youth instead of loans, while the corporate sector has also been engaged in this fund for the first time, any corporate listed company will participate in this fund for the production of a film. The income from this will be exempt from tax.
Maryam Aurangzeb said that there is no tax and import duty on the import of cameras, equipment, cinema equipment and other equipment for the film industry in Pakistan.
The Federal Information Minister said that all the information about Pakistan’s film policy is available on the Ministry’s website. She said that it is not only the announcement of the policy, but it is also being implemented.
She said that initiatives like Naqsh Digital Film by Fatima Jinnah University will promote the film industry in Pakistan. Furthermore, she said that such programs highlight the positive identity of Pakistan. She said that 66% of the population of Pakistan consists of youth under 30 years of age, there is a need to provide training to the youth of Pakistan in film making. These are the ways through which we can express ourselves and can promote screen tourism.
Federal Minister of Information while appreciating the Media Studies and Communication Center at Fatima Jinnah Women’s University said that PTV will provide all possible facilities for Naqsh Digital Film of Fatima Jinnah University. She said that no other channel has the infrastructure that PTV has, PTV is an international broadcaster.
Maryum highlighted that PTV and Radio Pakistan will provide their platform for this program of Fatima Jinnah Women University. On this occasion, Information Secretary Shahira Shahid said that we need to highlight the talent of our youth. She said that films reflect the values of any society. Addressing the event, MDP TV Sohail Ali Khan said that short film is an integral part of PTV.
With the efforts of the Federal Minister of Information, PTV has started the production of short films in a short time. She said that we need to bring forward the talent available in universities and colleges, youth should be given maximum opportunities. Prof. Dr. Sarwat Rasool, Chairperson of Department of English and Senior Reporting Officer of Department of Social Sciences of Fatima Jinnah University also addressed the ceremony.