Eid-ul-Fitr 2018 is just round the corner with multiple Pakistani films, including the Mahira Khan and Sheheryar Munawar-starrer 7 Din Mohabbat In, Jawed Sheikh’s Wajood and Azaadi that features Moammar Rana and Sonya Hussyn in lead roles, scheduled to release around that time.
While the much anticipated Bollywood film, Race 3 that will see Salman Khan replace Saif Ali Khan as the lead this time, is also releasing on June 15, it will not run in cinemas in Pakistan during Eid, as per latest development.
In a recent turn of events, the Central Board of Film Censors has issued a statement against the screening of Indian films on the ‘occasions of Eid’.
The statement reads, “In order to revive and promote local film industry in Pakistan, the Federal Government has decided to put a limited restriction on exhibition/ screening of Indian films during the period around Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Azha. The restriction shall remain in force two days before and two weeks after Eid days.”
The statement also adds that the importers/distributors of foreign films are requested to restrain from exhibition/ screening of Indian films in cinema houses all over the country during the period mentioned.
Though this has been done with the intention of promoting local films, we feel it may have an adverse effect on local cinema. With no Bollywood films played in cinemas, the footfall will reduce to a larger extent and this will affect the business of cinema, resulting in lower box office numbers for Pakistani films.
