During the hearing of two petitions from Pakistan film exhibitors asking for permission to lift the ban on screening of Indian film, a lawyer argued before the Sindh High Court that lifting of the ban would boost the domestic film industry, and also generate revenue for the government exchequer.

The ban on Indian films had "failed to achieve the desired results", he said and added that the ban was effective only in as far as cinemas were concerned, while Indian films were being shown in film festivals and on cable TV networks.

In the capacity of amicus curiae, Advocate Qazi Faez Isa maintained that the ban was "irrational" and had resulted in closing down of about 925 cinemas over the years and bringing down the number and quality of feature films produced in Pakistan.

Cinemas and the domestic film industry were in dire straits and the court could take judicial notice of the consequences of an unreasonable ban, the Dawn quoted the lawyer as arguing before the High Court.

The HC had asked the lawyer and Advocate-General Anwar Mansoor Khan to assist it in deciding two petitions moved by the Pakistan Film Exhibitors Association and M/s Mahboob Pictures for permission to import and screen Indian movies, particularly 'Anmol Ghari', which was banned after the 1965 war.

Isa said that 55 per cent of the price of a cinema ticket went to public coffers and the exhibition of Indian films would generate public revenue.

"When all manner of Indian movies are aired on cable, even by Pakistani channels, no taxes are earned and no jobs are created. Video cassettes of Indian movies infringe intellectual property rights without yielding any corresponding benefit.

The influx of unregulated and uncensored Indian, European and American films was causing all-round damage. If Indian films were to be shown in cinema houses, they would be subject to control and censorship," he added.