ISLAMABAD, Sept 18 (APP): A three-day Asia Peace Film Festival featuring works of the Asian documentary makers kicked off here Monday at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).
The festival was inaugurated by Federal Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, while delegates from participating countries and United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) representative and Director General PNCA shared their views regarding value of performing arts for promoting peace in the region.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Iqbal welcomed the foreign guests and said that those who visited Pakistan now be able to tell the world that Pakistan is a peaceful and is hospitable and back to the business of arts, culture and film.
By 2020 Asia will become centre of global business and attention. Today we are in the race of development and every country is in this competition, he said adding that movies and arts is a very creative field. A developed country is the one, which has utilized human and natural resources. Aspirations of people are now becoming global and it is very important that today every country is moving forward towards development path and development is not possible without peace.
Every indicator of development rests on internal stability, as peace has become central to the path of development of humanity and society, he said. Our future is based on connectivity not on confrontation and those who speak of confrontation, are taking us into the past.
“We have one of the best places in world, where best movies of the world can be filmed and government is ready to provide all support to the film makers. Actors are agents of change. A film, piece of book and any other art can make. “ he said.
Movie making is channel of communication, as it can educate people on social problems and also take people to future.
PNCA DG Jamal Shah said that film has a larger canvas for the dissemination of any message that could bring a positive change. The federal government support to the APFF speaks of the deep interest to maintain peace in the country and in the world.
He said diversity is the real life. We need to respect for each other’s ethnic and cultural identity. The festival is all about how to celebrate diversity and harness harmony.
The Asia Peace Film Festival would change Pakistan’s image worldwide contrary to the present one that Pakistan is a hostile society and no one is safe. Most of the international delegates attending the first Asia Peace Film Festival had quite different opinion about Pakistan before to land in the federal capital and to interact with the locals.
He said the films can create awareness about human rights, violence against women and films can also raise issues, educate people about culture, it can help motivating people for better future.
APP/Cdra/mka/ VNS Islamabad
