From Asian Sex Gazette:
Pornography keeping Pakistan cinema alive
August 21, 2006
Karachi - New chairman of the Pakistan Censor Board, Ejaz Ilahi Paracha has been told by his country s film distributors and exhibitors that screening of pornographic films was keeping the dying cinema houses in Pakistan alive.
There are some exhibitors who politely whispered in my ear that these movies should be left alone since they make money for the dying cinemas, the Daily Times quoted Ejaz Ilahi Paracha as saying.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi on Monday, Paracha said that he had approached the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to finance the failing domestic film industry as the films produced here lacked quality partially due to poor cameras and sound-recording equipment. Paracha said he also approached the United Nations Development Programme for new cameras but was told that the ADB was in a better position to help.
He is reportedly waiting for an answer from them. Whether we get them for free or we buy them, all equipment will be given to filmmakers. Also, we will send technicians abroad.
Still, if that is expensive, we will get one to train our local technicians here, he said. Noted Pakistani film producer Zubair called for a ban on the English movies as they were interfering with local business.
There was a time when there were 115 members in my association. Today, there are 10 because business is so bad, he said. He alleged said that adult movies were being shown in cinemas as their owners had done deals with officials of the city censor board.