Pakistani society has great potential, say speakers.

KARACHI -- The digital media and creative arts have created several opportunities in the modern era forthe generation who want to grow their careers in these particular fields. These views were shared by renowned educationists, artists, actors, film directors and media persons during the last day of the two-day mega titled 'SMIU-DICE Creative Arts and Media Summit and Exhibition' hosted by the Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) in collaboration with the DICE Foundation USA at the Expo Center on Tuesday. Speaking in the panel discussion titled 'Past, Present and Future of Film Industry in the Country', film director and actor Usman Pirzada said that the cinemas were [presently] not built for common masses. 'We make [cinemas] for a particular society,' he said. 'The industry won't grow until they are made for common people,' he suggested. Pirzada said that the film industry was dying in Pakistan because of general Zia-ul Haq's censorships he imposed during his tenure. 'The violence in the films [Punjabi films] was introduced during that time.'

Pirzada was of the opinion that there was great potential in Pakistan for the film industry but it has never been recognized and supported by the government. He said that several film producers and actors tried to establish a...