PNCA to start classical music classes

LAHORE: The Pakistan National Council of the Arts will soon start classical music classes at most of its centres, Federal Minister for Culture Pir Aftab Shah Jilani announced on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters at Shakir Ali Museum, the minister said that the ministry was also working on a digital laboratory project to facilitate film production. He said the ministry was determined to do all it could to solve the problems faced by the indigenous film industry and hoped for a revival. “Major stakeholders in the film industry are today divided into various groups but this does not concern the ministry. I have recently visited Mustafa Qureshi, the actor, and discussed the matter with him. The prime minister has agreed to grant Rs50 million to help the film industry but this is only a token amount. The government will extend further cooperation as soon as the stakeholders take serious steps towards improvement,” he said.

Asked about conversion of cinema houses, Mr Jilani pointed out that these were built following grant of special licences. The real estate could not be converted into commercial buildings. Asked why the ministry was not enforcing the rule, he said, “Housing is a provincial subject. We urge the provincial governments to take action against the cinema owners who have converted cinema houses into plazas in violation of the relevant rules,” the minister said. Responding to a question about recognising film making as an industry, he said his ministry had already issued a notification in this regard. “Now the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) has to issue a notification. The FBR and the Ministry of Finance say that Economic Coordination Committee can give relaxations to the film industry. Now we will forward the case to the ECC,” the minister said.

The minister said that he had assured film makers that the ministry would support Pakistani films. As long as at least four good Pakistani movies were released on Eid, he said, no Indian movies would be allowed screening.

Earlier, a PRO of the ministry had invited some journalists to interact with the minister but when they reached there they were told that no interaction had been scheduled. This caused a tense situation. Later, however, the minister apologised for the misunderstanding.

Publish in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2010.