Businessmen urged to invest in film industry

State Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb has urged the business community to invest in film industry not only for its revival but also to promote culture and heritage of Pakistan at international level.
Recognising the need for improvement in entertainment industry of the country, the minister sought co-operation of traders with focus on indigenous production while talking to the members of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) here on Wednesday. "The film industry offers huge opportunities to private sector for investment and business ventures too," she further said.
She urged the business community to come forward and exploit this potential, which will help film industry to grow and flourish. Appreciating the role of business community in development of national economy, the minister said the government is taking many initiatives to create conducive environment for growth of trade, commerce and manufacturing.
The minister spoke about the improved law and order in the country that is beneficial for business growth, including the entertainment sector. As Pakistan has stopped airing Indian contents on electronic media and the Indian films too are not being displayed at the local cinemas, her suggestion comes as a move by the authorities to fill the gap through local productions. She briefly focused on the importance of film industry for any country and said that quality production is not only in the national interests but it also offers attractive return on investments.
Aurangzeb announced that her ministry would consider starting programmes on entrepreneurship at PTV and Radio Pakistan, "We want to establish long-term relationship between the Ministry of Information and the ICCI to promote business ventures related to mutual interests," she said. She said that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would organise a seminar on CPEC in January 2017, and asked the business community of the federal capital to take part in the event.
Speaking at the occasion, President ICCI Khalid Iqbal Malik said the Information Ministry should play its role in highlighting investment opportunities regarding CPEC projects at national and international level to attract more FDI in Pakistan. He said the ICCI is planning to organise 'Handicraft and Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition' in the second half of January and invited Marriyum Aurangzeb as chief guest, which was accepted by the state minister.