Debut venture: Govt to launch children’s film society in March

This will provide a platform for producing, broadcasting movies and TV shows for kids

ISLAMABAD: The information ministry is planning to establish the country’s first-ever Children’s Film Society in order to provide a platform for nurturing production and broadcasting movies and TV programmes for children.

Talking to The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity, an official said the ministry has developed the business rules, which will be finalised in February while the Children’s Film Society is going to be launched during the first week of March this year.

“It is going to be established on public-private partnership and the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) will play a key role for the implementation of this intervention,” he said.

The official said this Children’s Film Society will be working at the federal level. However, it could play as a model for provinces to be replicated. He said the idea of establishing this society was conceived after reviewing children’s film societies across the globe and mainly in the region.

“In Pakistan movies, TV shows, dramas specifically meant for children are missing both on the TV channels and on radio,” the official said. Moreover, there is no designated film industry to specifically produce movies for children.

“It is a fact that by producing and broadcasting movies and TV shows, we could help to create awareness among the children about their rights and values and also to motivate them to become good citizens of the country,” he said.

He said experts in the field of production and broadcasting TV and radio programmes at public and private channels as well as film industry will be active members of the society and will help the younger generation in producing and broadcasting such stuff for children.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2017.