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‘Iran can help jump-start Pakistani film industry’

By Ali Usman

LAHORE: Iran could help Pakistan’s film industry flourish by organising film-making courses and training programmes for the latter’s film directors and producers if they (directors and producers) showed willingness, Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Cultural Institute President Muhammad Rajabi told Daily Times.

Rajabi said Iran had already signed a joint filmmaking project with the Republic of Tajikistan. Rajabi led a four-member delegation that had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Lahore Arts Council. He said main areas of focus in the MoU were cinema, theatre and paintings.

The Cultural Institute is affiliated with the ECO. Its basic aim is to foster understanding and preservation of the cultural heritage of its member countries through common projects in the fields of media, literature, art, philosophy, sport and education.

The member countries of the ECO are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

He said a magazine would be published to enhance economic and cultural cooperation between the ECO members. He said the magazine (likely to be named ECO Times) would be published in several languages, including Persian and English. The magazine, he said, would cover cultural and economic news of the region. He said, “Pakistani authors and artists will be invited to the 21st Tehran International Book Fair in May. The festival is one of the largest cultural festivals in the world.” He said a student exchange programme should be finalised.

Resemblance between Tehran and Lahore: “An old adage that read ‘one who had not seen Lahore has not yet been born’ speaks about the grandeur of Lahore. The Badshahi Masjid, Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum and the Lahore Fort are the artistic masterpieces.”

He also said Lahoris were hospitable and Lahori food was delicious. He added, “Pollution is the common problem of Tehran and Lahore and it should be countered.” Rajabi said, “Iran and Pakistan share same soul of culture. Apart from cultural resemblances, Lahore has a more diverse cultural heritage than Tehran.”

He said Iran would spend huge funds on cleanliness and had involved the private sector to dump solid waste. “The fascinating thing about the Lahoris is that they still cling to their roots and culture. I do not feel that I am in an alien land, but travelling in any one of Iran’s ancient cities.”

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