India hopeful new Pak govt would lift ban on Indian films

Mumbai, Mar 25 (UNI) Union Information and Broadcasting Secretary Asha Swarup today expressed hope that the democratically elected new government in Pakistan would remove all restrictions on screening of Indian movies in the country.

Addressing the inaugural session of the three-day FICCI-FRAMES, annual convention on the business of Indian entertainment and media (E&M) industry here, Ms Swarup said such a cordial step of Pakistan would open a new chapter in its bilateral relations with India.

A Pakistani film 'Khuda ke liye' was successfully released in India recently and Indian film 'Taare Zameen Par' was likely to be screened soon in Pakistan, she said.

Earlier, the veteran film-maker and the FICCI's Entertainment Committee Chairman, Yash Chopra had also expressed hope for the same and said that by lifting the ban on Indian films in Pakistan, the new government in our neighboring country would not only strengthen bilateral cultural relations but add a new dimension to the film industry in the Indian sub-continent.

Mr Chopra, who had made a film 'Veer Zara' based on a love story between two citizens of the neighboring countries three years ago, lamented that in recent past only two Indian films, 'Mughal-e-Azam' and 'Taj Mahal' were 'officially' released in Pakistan.

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