DESIGN: AMNA IQBAL/FILE
LAHORE: Artists across Punjab are disappointed over the exclusion of the local entertainment industry from the 2019-2020 provincial budget.
Not a single penny has been specifically allocated to the development of Pakistani films, music and dramas serials or any other cultural activity, for that matter. Besides, there is no funding for local artists, irrespective of whether they are still working or not. Facilities such as the Artists’ Insurance Card and other related welfare programmes have also been ignored in the budget.
Naturally, those employed in the entertainment industry are feeling sidelined by the government. According to them, this lack of patronage is reflective of the government’s poor attitude towards art and one of the reasons why the Punjabi film industry has been suffering.
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It is pertinent to mention that the budget for the fiscal year 2019-2020 allocates only Rs96.100 million to new schemes related to arts and culture, although a total of Rs300 million was allocated to the Information and Culture Department overall.
The government of Punjab has allocated funds to four new infrastructural schemes: an upgrade of the Open Air Theatre Lahore, an upgrade of the Sahiwal Arts Council, an upgrade of Lahore Museum and the construction of the Bahawalpur Arts Council.
While it is true that the overall funding for arts and culture has been increased by Rs100 million this year, as compared to the Rs200 million allocated last year, stakeholders are deeply discouraged. During the fiscal year of 2017-2018, Rs600 million were granted to the cultural department. In 2016-2017, it was Rs400 million and in 2015-2016, it was Rs360 million.
“Entertainment industries in all other countries flourish because their governments it adequate attention but in Pakistan, it’s the opposite,” Chaudhry Ejaz Kamran, chairman of the Pakistan Film Distributors Association, told The Express Tribune. “It’s shocking that not a single rupee has been set aside for the welfare of Pakistani film, especially since we have been asking the government for support on many different platforms and were honestly expecting better. There is nothing here for films and TV!”
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Renowned actor Shiba Butt echoed Ejaz’s sentiments. “We’ve been crying for financial assistance for years! We want to revive local entertainment and just when we need the maximum support, we get nothing,” she stated. “It’s tragic that this Eid, there was only one film made in Lahore…”
Another senior actor, seeking anonymity, said, “This is really very disappointing. Pretty soon, there will be no cultural activities taking place in Punjab; nothing to give people some respite from their daily lives. In fact, if this continues, traditional festivals which have been going on for decades will also, eventually, fade out. How can we do anything when we don’t have any financial support from the government?”
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