First Pak filmfest in India in September

New Delhi, Jun 2 (UNI) Close on the heels of the screening of two Bollywood blockbusters in Pakistan, India today agreed to hold the first Pakistani film festival in September, marking a significant breakthrough in their cultural ties.

As a reciprocal gesture, Pakistan will also hold a festival of Indian films later. At least four Pakistani films will also be commercially released in major Indian cities.

The two countries also agreed to throw open an additional eight religious shrines on their soil for their pilgrims, taking the number to 13 from the existing five.

These were decided at the two-day third round of Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan on 'Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in Various Fields'' within the franework of the Composite Dialogue process, which concluded here today.

Pakistan Culture Secretary Jalil Abbasi told UNI that the films in Urdu and Punjabi would be screened in four major Indian cities, which would be selected by New Delhi.

''While Mughal-e-Azam and Taj Mahal have already proved to be major hits in Pakistan, the objective is to have a greater exchange of this kind in future,'' he said, adding ''on the long term basis, we have to work together for achieving this goal.'' Culture Secretary Badal Kumar Das, who led the Indian delegation at the talks, said India would participate in a cultural and tourism festival on the Indus Valley civilisation in Moenjodaro in October by sending a group of historians, archaeologists and cultural experts.

Mr Das said India also proposed to increase the number of journalists in each other's country and also lift ban on Indian newspapers, magazines and periodicals in that country.

On the issue of lifting ban on Indian TV channels, Pakistan did not make any assurance, he said.

On increasing the number of shrines, Mr Das said Pakistan would soon give a list of the additional shrines to be opened to Indian pilgrims. India will also submit its list soon.

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