Late payment is an industry standard: Ahmad Ali Butt

After veteran actor Mohammed Ahmed and director Mehreen Jabbar, Ahmad Ali Butt is the latest celebrity to slam Pakistani industry's recurring issue with late payments. "Late payment is an industry standard," said Butt in an Instagram Story on Monday. "Production houses, television channels and corporate sponsors all have a 60 to 90-day payment clause, and that too is hardly ever met on time."

He added, "There are a few rare people who will pay you on time, otherwise everyone will make sure that you have to beg for your money, and that too in installments." On a lighter note, the actor quipped, "Work for YouTube. Be your own boss."

While the entertainment industry's exploitative practices have been criticised repeatedly, the recent spotlight comes after Jabbar flagged the issue in an interview. While appearing on the podcast, Gup Shup with Sheeba, the Dobara Phir Se director said, "In the US, even with all their issues, there's a fixed schedule for payments. People know when they'll get paid. Here, you have to chase payments like beggars."

She maintained that this is something that affects everyone in the industry, "Ask anyone and they'll have stories. This is across every channel and production house." Following Jabbar's statement, Ahmed took to Instagram to share his experience. In a video message, he said, "Except one production house or two, I haven't seen people being paid on time. Payments delayed by three to four months are commonplace. That too, after begging for what is yours… They will still behave like they've done you a huge favour."

Shining a harsh light on the very real need for timely payments in an increasingly difficult financial climate rife with bills and inflation, Ahmed took issue with the ideal notion that an artist's work is above money.

"Money is everyone's biggest need," stressed the actor as though pointing out the obvious. "Especially for those people who have no form of income other than showbiz. A production house will make you do a 15 – to 20-hour shoot, but when it comes to giving you a cheque, they either refuse to pick the phone or give you a ridiculous reason for not doing so."

For Ahmed, there is only one silver lining in this dire state of affairs: the fact that he is no longer alone in calling out production houses. "Thank you, Mehreen, for saying what you did," he said, a note of warmth entering his voice. "I'm glad that people have started speaking up."