LAHORE, Oct 14: The entertainment industry is tottering from the ongoing wave of terrorism and hoax and their business is down by around 50 per cent, people related to cinema and theater told Dawn.

The production of films is almost zero as only three Punjabi and one Urdu film was released on the recent Eidul Fitr.

Zoraiz Lashari from Sozo World Cinema said hoax calls and suicide attacks in different parts of the country had lowered sales at the box office some 50 per cent as people were scared of going to crowded places. He said both the Indian and Pakistani movies had been affected by bomb explosions.

Mr Lashari said security at cinemas and theatres was also a big issue as only cinemas doing good business could afford scanning doors.

The business of cinemas in Lakshmi and Bhati Chowk has gone down by 50 per cent. At Nigar Cinema, tickets are being sold at the cheapest rate to meet the expenses.

Nadeem Mandviwala from DHA Cinema also said that besides terror, the other factors contributing to the slump were that flicks released on Eid could not click at the box office and that after Eid, sales went low for a brief period, he said.

Cinema Management Association Chairman Qaiser Sanaullah said even though Lakshmi Chowk cinemas did not afford scanning doors, all cinema halls had metal detectors and every person was scanned before being allowed in.

He said scanning doors were also installed at the Metropol cinema. Mr Sanaullah said that a few days ago police had asked all cinemas in Lahore to tighten their security.

He said people did not want to risk their lives by coming to a crowded places. In these circumstances they preferred sitting home and watch films on TV cable.