Saudi Arabia allows screening of Pakistani movies, dramas

Kingdom's films and dramas will also be screened in Pakistan following a cultural agreement

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to promote cultural, social and economic ties, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to screen movies and TV dramas being produced in the two countries.

According to the cultural pact inked between the two countries, Pakistani movies and dramas will be screened in Saudi Arabia and vice versa.

Details of the cultural agreement were finalised between Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry and his Saudi counterpart Dr Awad bin Saleh when the latter visited Islamabad last week.



The initiative will allow actors to gain popularity and stardom outside of their own countries.

According to an official of the information ministry, Pakistan signed cultural agreements with Islamic countries in the past, hoping that the recent one will be fruitful.

"We are already tied in religious, cultural and societal relations with Saudi Arabia," he said. "This move will hopefully bring the two countries closer.

To serve a population of more than 32 million, most of whom are under the age of 30, Saudi authorities plan to set up around 350 cinemas with over 2,500 screens by 2030, which they hope will attract nearly $1 billion in annual ticket sales.