Pakistan temporarily bans Indian films during Eid

The Government of Pakistan has called for a temporary ban on the exhibition and screening of Indian films during Eid holidays next month. 

Indian films will be banned from two days before the Eid to until two weeks after the holidays, a notification issued by Pakistan's ministry of information and broadcasting noted. 

According to the officials, the move is an outcome of the requests received by the Pakistani film exhibitors, distributors and production houses.

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"The notification says that the temporary ban is being imposed in order to promote local movies on the festivals, a time when usual than the larger audience is attracted towards cinemas," an official from the Pakistan Film Exhibitors' Association noted.

According to reports, the notification would also be applicable for the Eid-ul-Adha holidays that will fall around late August or September.

Pakistani film producers and artists have been facing stiff completion from the Indian and Hollywood movies. The limited number of screens in the country does not facilitate good business for most distributors and filmmakers in Pakistan.

Eid is also the time when a number of new Pakistani films are usually due for a release.

(With inputs from PTI)