In line with the directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to revive Pakistan’s film and cinema industry, the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture held the final consultative meeting under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Culture, Mr. Huzaifa Rehman. The meeting aimed to finalize a comprehensive roadmap for the industry’s revival.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Ministry of National Heritage & Culture participated in the session. Key stakeholders from the film and cinema sectors were also in attendance, including:
• Mr. Mir Ibrahim Rahman, CEO Geo TV Network
• Mr. Irfan Malik (ARY Network)
• Mr. Badr Ikram (Hum TV)
• Veteran filmmaker Syed Noor
• Renowned film producer Satish Anand
• Mr. Nadeem Mandviwalla and Mr. Amjad Rasheed (Distributors)
• Chairman of Pakistan Film Producers Association, Mr. Shehzad
• Other stakeholders including Zain Wali and Younus Hameed
All participants welcomed the Prime Minister’s personal attention to the revival of the entertainment industry.
Mr. Mir Ibrahim Rahman, CEO of Geo TV, stated:
“The Prime Minister has made clear his intention to prioritize cinema and film revival. We believe instead of endlessly chasing perfection, we must begin by implementing what is already good. As I often say: let us implement the ‘khub’ (good) effectively, and then progress toward ‘khubtar’ (better). The 2018 film policy—if revised in 2023 and implemented sincerely—could solve many of our core issues.”
Satish Anand appreciated the Prime Minister’s initiative, noting that film and cinema had rarely received such priority at the highest level of government. He termed the formation of a high-level committee led by Mr. Huzaifa Rehman a historic step.
Syed Noor emphasized that cinema and film are inseparable and must be revived in tandem, beginning with content development.
Mr. Badr Ikram stated that consistent implementation of the 2018 and 2023 film policy updates, along with proper funding and planning, would have placed the industry in a much stronger position today.
Officials from the Ministry of Information affirmed that partial implementation of the 2018 policy had already begun and would now be accelerated.
In his concluding remarks, Minister of State Huzaifa Rehman said:
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif holds this cause close to his heart. It is among his top national priorities. He personally reviews my reports after each meeting. This final consultative session will lead to the submission of a detailed roadmap to the Prime Minister, incorporating all stakeholder perspectives.”
He also requested all stakeholders to submit their key recommendations in a one-page format so they may be appended to the final report being submitted to the Prime Minister.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks and renewed commitment to restoring Pakistan’s film and cinema industry to global standards.
