The federal government dissolved the ‘independent status’ of the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC). Subsequently, the censor board will once again come under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
According to reports, the summary to cancel the independent status of the censor board was approved by the federal Cabinet via a process of circulation.
The CBFC was granted the stature of an autonomous body in 2020 during Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s (PTI) government. However, it is now a subsidiary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcast under Marriyum Aurangzeb.
Minister Aurangzeb is a member of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and a member of the National Assembly.
She met with the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, last week to form a committee consisting of representatives from the two countries to allow both countries to venture together in the making of future film and drama projects. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed by both sides to enhance mutual cooperation.
What do you think about the federal government’s decision to terminate the CBFC’s independent status? What could this mean for the future of the Pakistani film industry? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
