Culture, democracy inextricably linked to each other: Marriyum

ISLAMABAD: Culture and democracy were inextricably linked to each other and during dictatorial regimes arts, artist communities and freedom of expression got suppressed.

Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb said this while addressing the curtain-raiser ceremony of National Artist Convention 2018 and CPEC Cultural Carvan Festival here Friday.

She said the government was all set to announce first-ever culture and film policies very soon, which will usher in an epoch making era for the promotion of culture and revival of the film industry in the country.

The minister said that the cultural policy had been formulated in consultation with the provincial governments. She said that the policy envisaged setting up of a finance fund, film academy, national centre of excellence, performing arts and visual arts academy, besides a number of incentives like tax rebates on equipment for the cinema houses, preparation of data base of the artists and according protection to the jobs of the employees of the culture related departments.

She further said that the rates of tax on cinema tickets would be kept to the minimum. She said that the purpose of the measures being taken by the government was not only to help and assist the artists but also to ensure their due place in the society. She observed that it was for the first time that a plan had been chalked out for the welfare and development of the artist community.

Marriyum said that for the first time Pakistan would participate in the film festivals at Beijing and Shanghai. She said that the culture and film policies were designed to revive the narrative of peaceful Pakistan through culture, heritage and broadcasting.

The minister said that the positive identity of Pakistan could be highlighted in a better way through the promotion of arts. She said that culture and democracy were inextricably linked to each other and during the dictatorial regimes arts, artist community and freedom of expression got suppressed.

She said that artists from across the country had been invited to attend the convention and they would themselves identify the difficulties being confronted by the cultural structure, films, theatre and performing and visual arts. The minister said that the recommendations made in the convention would be presented to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and their implementation would be ensured after his approval. Marriyum said that the prime minister had advised to consult all the stakeholders in the films and culture industries.