KARACHI, Aug 26: The cinema owners, film producers and writers at a seminar on Thursday criticized the government for burdening the cinema houses with heavy taxes , providing no relief to film industry and allowing Indian movies in the country through cable operators, and demanded steps to address the situation.

The seminar on "How can the Pakistani film industry be revived," was organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation at its Vicky Aeitlin Media Library. Film star and director Syed Kamal on the occasion said that shortage of genuine film artistes, producers and directors, besides lack of training facilities for artistes and other related staff were major causes of local film industry's downfall.

In addition, no relief or facility was provided to people associated with film business, including cinema house owners, he said, adding that this led to emergence of unprofessional people as filmmakers in the country.

He strongly opposed the idea of importing Indian movies and criticized those artistes who were having joint ventures with Indian moviemakers or working in their films. Suggesting ways for revival of local film industry, he said cinema and film people should sit together and think about revival of local film industry on modern lines.

"Government patronage is must for revival of local film industry, as it should set up training institutes and declare it an industry," he said, adding that cinema owners should also reduce rates of tickets.

According to him, lack of entertainment opportunities in the country was one of the causes of deteriorating law and order situation. Noted writer Fatima Suraiyya Bajia, who is also an advisor to Sindh chief minister, said keeping in view the present circumstances, lack of technical facilities and scarcity of funds, local filmmakers should produce movies of short duration on simple social issues.

"We have the abilities and the talent to compete with India, only strong will is required. Short duration movies of 90 minutes, based on simple social issues, can be produced, which will definitely attract viewers to local cinema houses," she added.

According to her, the norms and values of local society were declining and in these circumstances, experienced and educated people should come to rescue younger generations.

Cinema owner Zulfiqar Ramzi said VCR, cable and pirated movies, besides 100 per cent government taxes had badly damaged the cinema industry, which also suffered due to lack of quality film production in the country.

He claimed that over 60 per cent cinema houses in Karachi had been closed, and only 20 to 25 per cent people visited the cinema houses to watch movies mostly owing to poor quality films being produced in the country.

He said the government and the people should accept piracy as a crime and impose a ban on running pirated Indian and English movies by cable operators, adding that otherwise, the film and cinema industry would continue to suffer.

He said a Cinema Commission was constituted to look into the problems of cinema industry by the regime of Gen Ayub Khan, which presented its recommendations in a 650-page report, but nothing was materialized.

The dismemberment of the East Pakistan badly affected film business and the artistic contribution from that part of the country was stopped. Moreover, the formation of a government body, NAFDAC, which was solely authorized to import films and select cinemas for screening of those films, also damaged the industry.

He said that a gradual decline in the number of cine-goers badly affected cinema business and the city of Karachi which had 110 cinema houses in 1975 presently has only some 42 cinemas.

He also expressed reservations over the role of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to curb the menace of screening pirated films by cable operators.

Another cinema owner, Nawab Huzoorul Hasan, deplored that no incentives were provided by the government either to filmmakers or to cinema house owners. He supported the idea of imposing a ban on pirated Indian movies on cable, and said if it was not possible the government should allow cinema houses to screen the same.

Till 1965 Indian films were screened in Pakistan, which created a competitive environment, but after the imposition of a ban on screening of Indian films, substandard films started to be produced, he further said.

Editor of a local weekly on films was of the view that local filmmakers and producers should use the latest technology for sound, visual affects and graphics to compete with Indian filmmakers.

Films with comic and romantic themes, besides films on children's issues and social subjects should be produced, which would give a boost to the local film industry, he observed. -PPI\APP