 "First look of 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'. (Photo: Twitter/@karanjohar)")
Pakistani distributors and exhibitors are contemplating to end the ban on the release of Indian films after "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" and "Shivaay" have been issued NOCs for screening.
The Pakistan Film Exhibitors and Distributors Association, which includes most owners of cineplexes, multiplexes and single screen cinemas in the country, had announced a ban on Indian films soon after tensions escalated between Pakistan and India over cross-border firing incidents last month.
The exhibitors and cinema owners had taken the decision voluntarily after theIndian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA) sought a ban on Pakistani artists and technicians working in India.
Zoraiz Lashari, chairman of Pakistani Exhibitors and Distributors Association, said that no decision had been taken as such and also no press conference was scheduled to make any announcements regarding the ban.
But he conceded that in view of the terrorist attack on theQuetta Police Training College on Monday night, some plans had been put back.
"Our basic demand was to lift the ban on Pakistani actors working in India and the Indian authorities have lifted that ban. Even Fawad Khan's film is all set to be released in India on time, which is why even we are looking forward to a more positive outcome of this entire scenario," Lashari said.
He also said the association had suspended screening of Indian films and it was not a ban.
"The government didn't tell us to stop showing Indian films, it was a step taken by us voluntarily to show solidarity with our artistes and countrymen," he added.
A source said that after meeting, which took place on Sunday, followed by a brief discussion on Monday, all exhibitors agreed to resume the screening, effective from Tuesday but then the decision was put on hold due to the terrorist's attack in Quetta.
Another source added that both "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" and Ajay Devgn's "Shivaay" have been issuedNOCsby the ministry of commerce. "Shivaay" is set to be previewed by the censor boards.
The secretary of Sindh Board of Film Censors, Razzaq Khuhwar said that the government has issued the NOC for "Shivaay" and a screening will be held for certification purposes.
Mobashir Hasan, the chairman of the Central Board of Film
Certification said Indian films will be accepted and previewed if and when they are submitted for certification.
Nadeem Mandviwalla, the film exhibitor and distributor, said that the publicity material between Dharma productions, the producers of "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Hai" and Pakistani distributors, Distribution Club has already been exchanged and they are only waiting for the film to arrive in its DCP format in Pakistan.
The Media and Marketing Manager of a major chain of cineplexes, Sabina Islam, however, said that the ban has been lifted but only on one Bollywood film.
"We're waiting to find out which film the ban has been lifted for. Of course, all films that are submitted will be played, but our agenda is to push the film in which Fawad Khan has been cast.
A single screen cinema owner said that due to the suspension of Indian films, all the owners had begun to feel the financial pinch.
"The truth is that Indian films played a major role and contributed around 75 per cent of the revenues in the revival of our cinema industry so the suspension did put us back," he said.
