Pakistan lifts ban on screening Indian movies

Pakistan lifted the ban on import of Indian cinema, months after the government had put a moratorium on screening films following straining of relations between two countries last September.

The directive came from Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the country's information and broadcasting ministry said.

According to an official handout issued by the information ministry, the government is “pleased to continue the existing open policy to display all international movies (including Indian films) in Pakistani cinemas”, The Express tribune reported.

The lifting of the ban will also resuscitate the ailing Pakistan film industry as roughly two-thirds of the revenue comes from screening Indian films.

But the government has laid down a few rules for Indian movies to be released.

Exhibitors will now have to get a clearance certificate from the information and broadcasting ministry and the commerce ministry before showing movies in theatres.

But on the other side of the border, the ban on Pakistani artistes working in Indian movies remains in force.

The Indian movie producers' body refused to recruit Pakistani talent in their films due to diplomatic upheaval in the two countries.

The already-fragile relations between India and Pakistan was damaged when some militants, who India believes were helped by Pakistan, launched a deadly attack on an Indian army installation on September 18. Tensions mounted further when India retaliated by allegedly conducting 'surgical strikes' on terror pads based in Pakistan's Kashmir.

(WION)