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Pakistani cinemas resume screening of Indian movies

Cinema owners across Pakistan have suffered about Rs 150 million loss and some 100 employees lost their jobs since the non-screening of Indian movies. Pakistani Film Producer Sohail Khan said that allowing Indian movies to be screened in Pakistani cinemas should not be seen in the context of patriotism.

"You know business is business and a cup of tea is a cup of tea. We cannot ignore the ground reality which is that our movies are not doing fine and cinemas are getting empty," he said. 

Khan said Indian movie 'Freaky Ali' was passed by the Censor Board in September but for screening of new movies the Pakistani exhibitors would be needing NoC and approval certificated from the Pakistani Censor Board. 

"Karachi film industry is producing quality movies. I am working on my new film 'Wajood'. I won t mind if any big banner Indian film is screened against mine," filmmaker, actor and director Javed Sheikh said.

Pakistan Film Producers Association Chairman Syed Noor criticised lifting ban on Indian movies, saying "it is a commercial move devoid of any patriotism."

He said when the government has officially banned the Indian content why are the exhibitors not realising this fact. "There is no uniform policy. I want to know who put a ban on the screening of Indian movies and who lifted it," he said.

Pakistan is considered as the third largest market for Indian films.

Indian movies returned to Pakistani cinema houses in 2008 after a 43-year-long hiatus imposed during the 1965 war. 
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