Pak-China relations beyond the realm of diplomatic ties: Marriyum

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ISLAMABAD, April 11 (APP): Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Marriyum Aurangzeb while launching the ‘ Film Club’ with chinies film show”Postman in the Mountains” under the auspices of Pakistan National Council of Arts ,here today, said that the  relations between Pakistan and China were  beyond the realm of normal diplomatic ties and no diplomatic phrase could describe them in their true perspective. She said it was an unbreakable and eternal connect between the two people steeped in love and indescribable emotions of affinity. She said that  her four generations have witnessed the growth of relations between the two people which presently have touched dizzying heights, making all the phrases like deeper than sea, higher than Himalays and stronger than steel,  almost redundant and we might have to find  or coin a new terminology to describe them.
She said that films were a very strong medium that could help in strengthening and reinforcing cultural ties between the two countries and give a new dimension to them. Marriyum revealed that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was in the process of formulating the first ever policy for  film  and broadcasting production aimed at reviving the almost extinct film industry in the country. The minister said that since Chinese had a very developed film industry Pakistan could learn a lot from their experience and might even go for joint production for the audience of both the countries as well as the international viewers.
The minister said that film and broadcasting production was not only about entertainment.  She said that they were very powerful tools for community outreach and global connectivity and also had the ability to provide and promote multiple perspectives on historical events, social mores and norms,  unleashing the process of transformational change that discourages the emergence of fissiparous and divisive tendencies in a society as well as the development of national narratives on the challenges confronted by the country.
The films by encouraging creativity can also help in harmonizing the cultural values with the new regional and global cultural trends to avoid a confrontational  scenarios, she added. Marriyum said that the need for more focus on the cultural industries like film and broadcasting production and integrating their creative potential into the public policies could also nudge the development process of the country.
Marriyum said that nations had won wars through this medium and Pakistan needed them most at this particular juncture of its history when it was confronted with the scourge of terrorism. The films and broadcasting products can be effectively used to develop a national narrative against terrorism besides promoting cultural integration within the country and apprising the younger generation about their cultural heritage.
APP/Nahd