Culture doesnt only mean singing, dancing and eating

LAHORE - My goal is revival of the Pakistani film industry through encouraging talented and professional people. I will put my best foot forward to improve conditions in the industry as well as for the betterment of the film related people and also those who are capable to deliver but are underdog on account of lack of means. This was stated by Farrah Deeba, PML-N MPA and President Punjab Cultural Wing of the Party giving an interview to The Nation here on Saturday. She is also the President of Rangeela Welfare Foundation. Farrah said culture doesnt only mean singing, dancing, eating and merry making and go home as the people considered it. Understanding of culture and its promotion in fact is a big responsibility, she added. However she has lamented that the persons sustaining and promoting our cultural values today are facing many problems and her efforts would be directed to solving them as head of PML (N) Cultural Wing. Farrah said in 2005, she took charge of the office when even its booklet was not published and the situation too was not conducive to take necessary decisions to preserve, protect and inculcate the cultural norms in the society. She said it was on the advice of her late father Saeed Ahmad Khan (Rangeela) that she took up the responsibilities of cultural wing. Since then I have been performing my duties with best of my efforts, Farrah maintained. Farrah has appreciated Punjab CM Mian Shahbaz Sharif that on her request he had reduced the entertainment tax from 65 per cent to 20 per cent and exempted the cinemas from this tax for three years. Due to CMs positive actions, cultural activities would be get a boost and promoted in the province, Farrah added. Farrah said I am sorry to say good films are rare today and to help the industry the produce quality movies on the social and subjects of the time, cinema industry has been exempted from the tax. Farrah said Mian Shahbaz Sharif had also approved the housing society for the poor and needy artistes on her recommendations for which she was very thankful to Mian Sahib. She said Mian Sahib has a soft corner in his heart for the artiste community. She said for the solution of the cinema industrys problems she had arranged a meeting of cinema owners with CM Punjab. After this meeting a committee had been constituted for the solution of the cinema owners problems. I am also the member of this committee, Farrah said. She said she had devoted herself for the welfare of the masses and the solution of their problems. During the massive 2005 earthquake she had worked very hard to help the earth hit peoples, Farrah told. She collected the eatables things using all the channels to fulfil their needs. Even Veena Malik had also donated Rs 500,000 in CMs Earthquke Relief Fund on my request, she revealed. She said she also made hard work , when the floods made devastation in the Punjab. She had sent five trucks loaded with eatables and other needy things to the flood hit areas. Farrah said after the 18th Amendment, cultural wing federal powers have been converted to the provinces. Now the Punjab government was making amendments in it so that we could give a standard to the film sensor board. I have been asked to bring good peoples from the film industry, who can work honestly, she observed. On a question, Farrah said Indian movies should not be exhibited in Pakistani cinemas, because Indian films are damaging our culture and the new generations mindset. On the other hand Pakistani film makers should also show responsibility in making good films. They should make family-oriented films which can deliver good message to the masses. In this connection we have been working with Pervez Rashid Sahib for making legislation. Farrah said she had also submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly to make a fund for the poor and needy artistes. So that their financial needs could be fulfilled without any restriction. Farrah also said that she was trying to establish a film processing plant and colour lab, so that the Pakistani exchequer should not go outside the country. Farrah proudly said that no other culture is better than our culture, so we should make collective efforts to promote our culture. At the end Farrah said she had devoted her life for the welfare of the peoples.