'MPs to be part of Pemra Code of Conduct purview'

ISLAMABAD: The members of Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Information and Broadcasting Thursday agreed that like judiciary and military representatives, parliamentarians should also be included within the purview of Pemra Code of Conduct.

The committee meeting, presided by its chairman Aslam Bodla, was attended by its members, Secretary Information Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera and officials of the Ministry of Information.

Earlier, Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb oinformed the committee that the new film and cultural policy would be made part of the Finance Bill 2018.

She said that that the policy envisaged a number of incentives for the revival and development of the film industry including; exemption from sales tax on the film making equipment for ten years; establishment of Finance Fund from which loans up to 50 million rupees would be given for the production of films of international standard and construction of cinema houses; establishment of Artists Assistance Fund; setting up of film academy and re-organisation of the Film Directorate.

She said that the cinemas having 350 seats for the audience would also be exempted from paying income tax. She said that by ensuring complete implementation of the new film and cultural policy Pakistan could end Indian monopoly on the cinema in the region.

Marriyum said that the film makers would be provided unhindered access to the beautiful and scenic places and the foreign film makers opting to shoot 70% of their film in Pakistan and 30% in their own countries would be able to avail tax rebates and other incentives. She told the committee that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had made relentless and dedicated efforts during the last eight months to formulate the first ever film and cultural policy of the country for which the team of the ministry deserved unqualified gratitude.