Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi joint venture in filmmaking to boost ties: Fawad Chaudhry

• Fawad Chaudhry meets Egyptian envoy Tarek Dahrough.
• Fawad proposes joint venture engaging Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan in the field of film production.
• Expresses the desire to seek Arabic dubbing facilities to dub Pakistani programmes.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said Wednesday enhanced cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt in the arena of films and joint productions would not only help reinforce cultural bonds but also prove instrumental in further cementing brotherly relations.

The minister's comments came during a meeting with Egyptian envoy, Tarek Dahrough, where he proposed a joint venture and cooperation engaging Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan in the field of film production, according to a statement released by the Information Ministry.

Fawad proposed a virtual meeting between the Film Producers Associations of Pakistan and Egypt to discuss collaboration in the field of feature films.

The minister expressed the desire to seek Arabic dubbing facilities to dub Pakistani programmes, the statement said, adding that they also discussed possibilities for the exchange of teleplays between the two countries.

The federal minister informed the ambassador the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is finalising the draft MoU between Pakistan and Egypt envisaging cooperation in the fields of radio and TV.

"This will pave the way for programme exchanges and facilitate exchange of visits by technical experts and artists of the two countries," he said.

Both sides agreed that for further discourse on media cooperation, the information minister’s phone contact with the Egyptian counterpart, Director High Council of Media, Egypt would be arranged.

The minister also apprised the ambassador regarding government’s initiative to establish a media university imparting education and training in the faculties of film, media, and performing arts.

The ambassador welcomed the idea of the information minister regarding joint venture engaging Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt in the areas of films.

He also agreed to extend cooperation for joint religious programmes as recommended by the minister. For that, Egyptian scholars already working in Pakistan will be engaged.

The Egyptian envoy said he was eagerly looking forward to the possible signing of MoU on TV and radio cooperation between the two countries.