Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz has said that Pakistan is working to speed up work on joint entertainment productions with Saudi Arabia. Three serials – Dhoop Kinare, Tanhaiyan and Aahat – have been selected for dubbing in Arabic.
According to a report in Arab News, Faraz said that Islamabad wanted to enhance cultural cooperation with Riyadh, which is why the government aims to ‘speed up’ work on joint film and television productions to bring the people of the two countries closer.
“Some dramas and films have been dubbed and sent there [Saudi Arabia],” said Faraz, adding that a few were even watched by the royal family, including Hareem Farooq and Ali Rehman Khan’s Parchi.”
Parchi was the first Pakistani film ever to release in Saudi Arabia in 2018 and one of the first international releases in the Kingdom after a nearly 40-year ban on cinemas came to an end.
In April 2019, the then Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, in a press conference in Riyadh, had announced that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were in talks for increasing cultural exchange between the two countries.
Chaudhary confirmed Pakistan’s wish to participate in Saudi Arabia’s cultural revival and said it was willing to support its newly established performing arts academies by sharing the expertise of its actors, directors and other artists like calligraphers.
