In a bid to promote local artists Fawad Chaudhry hints at higher taxes for airing foreign dramas

What happened: Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry proposed increased taxation for airing foreign dramas in Pakistan. On the 23rd of December, while addressing a signing ceremony of an MoU between the Information Ministry, PTV and the National Arts Council, he urged to promote the local talent instead of foreigners. Details:   Fawad Chaudhry, at the same time, highlighted the importance of promoting local films and other forms of entertainment and said,  “Political debates did not promote the national narrative as effectively as do the mediums of entertainment.”  He also talked about conducting history’s largest Entertainment Awards in Pakistan, named the National Entertainment Awards. Fawad Chaudhry also allocated 250 million rupees for the award ceremony comprising of 33 awards in film, music and television categories.  More: While discussing how the entertainment industry has weakened, the minister said,  “In 1960s, Pakistan was the 3rd largest film producing country and it was 4th in the number of screens. Unfortunately, film drama and music industries were ruined during the past few decades.”