Fawad for Pak-Germany ventures in film, drama production: German envoy meets information minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Thursday, while in a meeting with Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Bernhard Stephan Schlagheck, called for joint ventures between Germany and Pakistan in the fields of film and drama productions. The minister said, “We would like German film makers and drama producers to come to Pakistan and explore the beauty of our Himalaya range through the lens of their cameras.” He proposed the holding of zoom meeting with German Film and Drama Producers Associations with a view to strengthening cooperation in the arena of film and joint productions.

Fawad contended that Pakistan’s relations with Germany are characterised by shared democratic values and multifaceted cooperation, adding that Pakistan is amongst the first Asian countries that established diplomatic ties with Germany.

He said that proposal of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in regards to video film highlighting the special ties of Allama Iqbal with Germany and his poetry about Heidelberg would fortify cooperation in the realm of joint productions and documentaries.

The minister also apprised the ambassador of the government’s initiative to establish Media Technology University and said that Germany’s cooperation would be welcomed in establishing state of the art modern education institution comprising four schools. Fawad emphasised the need to collaborate with gaming and animation companies of Germany. He said cooperation between Pakistan and Germany in this field would further boost economic ties between the two countries.

Bernhard Stephan Schlagheck appreciated the proposal of joint ventures in the areas of film and drama productions and said it would help to project beauty of the area besides promoting tourism. He also showed his keen interest to advance cooperation in the area of gaming.

The ambassador further commended the efforts of current democratic dispensation in the process of finalising the Journalists Protection Bill. Both, the ambassador and the minister discussed various issues faced by the journalist community and the state of media freedom in Pakistan.

The minister said that Pakistan has one of the freest media in the region as we firmly believe in fundamental and democratic right of freedom of expression. He informed the ambassador that Pakistan has about 43 international channels, 112 local private channels, 258 FM channels and 1569 print publications operating in the country.

The minister also raised his concern about the rising trend of Islamophobia in the West. Both also exchanged views to further reinforce cooperation in the fields of media and information.