KARACHI: The Pakistani government’s $7 million fund to finance films would help the cinema grow in the South Asian country, industry insiders said on Thursday, hailing the initiative along with an another $3.5 million allocated for health insurance for artistes.
In a first last week, Pakistan earmarked Rs2 billion ($7 million) to finance films and Rs1 billion ($3.5 million) for health insurance of artistes in the federal budget for the fiscal year 2023-24.
Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb made the announcement and said the fund would play a “major role” in the growth of Pakistan’s film industry.
Industry stake-holders say the minister held separate meetings with them to discuss steps for the improvement of the Pakistani cinema and sought their feedback ahead of the announcement.
“It’s a huge incentive for filmmakers to come forward and make films. It is brilliant what the government has done. It will have great results, if implemented, and will benefit the industry in the long-run,” Nadeem Mandviwala, owner of Atrium Cinemas, told Arab News.
“At this moment, the government, particularly Marriyum [Aurangzeb], is trying their best to implement it in the essence and the spirit of the idea. She took personal interest in it.”
Initially, the idea to devise a policy to support the industry originated in 2018 during the tenure of former prime minister Imran Khan, but nothing concrete materialized at that point.
The situation of cinemas worsened with Pakistan imposing a ban on Indian films in 2019, followed by huge losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Similarly, Mandviwala said, they requested the government to create a portal to provide health insurance to all artistes, including technicians, instead of providing funds to those appealing for treatment.
“There is no money exchange here. The government will cover the health insurance. We suggested the government to create a portal where every artist can register themselves so they don’t have to beg for it,” he said.
“For film production, the government will pay the bills, pay the artists and take care of other expenses instead of giving money.”
Nadeem Beyg, a leading Pakistani director, said Pakistani cinema was going through a “tough” time right now.
“If the country takes the right turn, it will improve the condition of the film industry too. With better facilities, insurance of artists and import of films, the situation will get better,” Beyg told Arab News.
“At this point it’s more important to keep film culture alive. We need [to make] more films. There is no big Hollywood film coming out to keep local cinemas running after August 2023.”
Sheikh Amjad Rashid, chairman of the Distribution Club (Pvt) Ltd, said he met the information minister last week in Islamabad, where she shared future plans to “promote” the Pakistani film industry.
“A film council will be made once the fund is approved in the budget. It will be a big incentive and will have a big impact on the industry,” Rashid said.
“We aim to promote young filmmakers, particularly those who have studied film from abroad, if they want to make something.”
He said he had requested the minister to provide an incentive to cinema by easing duty and not charging electricity bill on commercial rates.
“Until cinemas grow, the industry won’t grow,” he said.
However, Yasir Hussain, an actor and scriptwriter, questioned how the fund would reach young filmmakers like him.
“Is there a committee or directors’ guild that will distribute the money or will this money go to Syed Noor or old directors,” Hussain asked.
“Or will young, emerging directors like myself will also get an opportunity to make films with this money?”
