ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is all set to establish National Broadcasting and Film Commission purported to encourage the revival of the film industry and creation of enabling environment for the artists, producers and film makers to demonstrate their talent and skill in conformity with their professional ethos and would like to seek Iranian assistance for making the body more effective and vibrant.
This was stated by Minister of State forInformation, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb while talking to the Iranian Ambassador MehdiHonardoostm who called on her here Thursday.
She said that Pakistan highly valued its relations with Iran and the common religious and cultural values and National Heritage could be leveraged to bring the people of both nations evenmore closer.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Pakistan was keen to encourage cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts to enhance and deepen the religious and cultural bonds whichalready existed between the two neighboring countries.
She said that Pakistan would welcome any initiative by the Iranian Government for further expansion in the cultural tiesand shall take every possible step to introduce each other’s cultureto the people of both the countries.
The Minister also emphasizedthe need for exchange of cultural and media delegations and directed the officials concerned of Ministryof Information to establish an effective liaison and coordination with Iranian embassy to ensure increase in thefrequency of exchanges of cultural delegations.
During the meeting, the Iranian Ambassador and Ministerof State discussed in detail various proposals to further strengthen bilateral relations between the twocountries by increasing cooperation and collaboration particularlyin the field of media, culture and Information.
The minister proposed the idea of co-productions in film and dramas to promote and encourage common national heritage and values.Assuring his full support to the minister for the establishment of National Broadcasting and Film Commission,Mehdi Honardoost said that Iran was very much willing to promote cultural ties with Pakistan as well as making thispartnership more productive and meaningful in the mutuallybeneficial areas to the people of both countries.
The Ambassador also extended invitation to minister to visitPersian center established in the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad.