Raees censor screening underway across Pakistan

Mahira and Shah Rukh Khan starrer Raees is finally set to be cleared for release in Pakistan.

The Rahul Dholakia directorial which marks Mahira Khan's Bollywood debut is currently being reviewed by Punjab and Sindh's censor boards.

"Raees will be screened in Pakistani cinemas starting February 5," Chairman Film Exhibitors Association Zoraiz Lashari told The Express Tribune.  Lashari said the federal censor board cleared the movie and the provincial censor boards of Punjab and Sindh are currently reviewing the film.



A meeting is currently underway and we'll issue a certificate for Raees's release later today, a Punjab censor board official said on the condition of anonymity.

A final verdict on the release of Raees will be reached by respective censor board's by tonight.

The long awaited, self-imposed ban on Bollywood films ended on Wednesday as Karachi’s Atrium Cinemas screened Hrithik Roshan’s Kaabil.

Further on Wednesday, the information ministry and Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil for screening in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday gave the thumbs up to the information, broadcasting and heritage ministry to lift the ‘ban’ on screening Indian movies in Pakistan.

According to an official handout issued by the information ministry, the government is “pleased to continue the existing open policy to display all international movies (including Indian films) in Pakistani cinemas”.



The statement, however, pointed out that the cinema houses would be allowed to screen movies only after approval from relevant censor boards.

An official stated that the premier took the decision after being briefed by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

Following Uri attacks and ‘surgical strikes’ along the Line of Control, Pakistani cinema owners in September 2016 had decided not to screen Indian movies until tensions between the two countries receded. They took the decision after the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association banned all Pakistani artists from working in film projects in India.