In some good news for Pakistan, Federal Minister of Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, took to Twitter on this week to announce that a Pakistani version of Netflix is in the works. This will make it a first of its kind and the platform is all set to be made available to audiences soon. The minister also went on to add that the technical aspect of the platform has been completed and now, PEMRA has been asked to prepare guidelines for the content that will be screened on the medium.
“We at the Ministry of Science and Technology are all set to launch Pakistan’s first OTT television (Pakistani version of Netflix). The technology part is complete and we have asked PEMRA to prepare a guideline on content,” Chaudhry wrote in his tweet. “We will be all set to launch in PPP (Public-Private Partnership) mode. The politician is hopeful the medium will be up and running in no time,” he added. You can check out his tweet here:
We at @MinistryofST are all set to launch Pakistan’s first OTT Tv (Pak version of #Netflix) Technology part is complete have asked PEMRA to prepare a guideline on content and we will be all set to launch in PPP mode, it ll be just another humble contribution..
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 23, 2020
Many Pakistani artists have requested the dire need for such an OTT platform, especially after five Pakistani original series were picked up by an Indian streaming portal. After the official announcement was made, Pakistani lauded the move and celebrities too took to the micro-blogging site to share what great news the upcoming venture was for the country.
Actor Humayun Saeed was among the first celebrities to take to Twitter to comment the move and wrote, “This is such great news! Thank you, Fawad Chaudhry and Ministry of Science and Technology for this much-needed initiative. It will open doors of opportunities for many many talented people and eventually help Pakistan reach a truly global audience,” he penned.
This is such a great news! Thank you @fawadchaudhry and @MinistryofST for this much needed initiative. It will open doors of opportunities for many many talented people and eventually help Pakistan reach a truly global audience. Insha Allah ?? https://t.co/d8vKJmCmEW
— Humayun Saeed (@iamhumayunsaeed) October 23, 2020
Shaan Shahid too reiterated Saeed’s two cents on the announcement and thanked the federal minister for the project. “It’s a brilliant effort by Fawad Chaudhry,” the Waar star shared, adding, “It is time we make our presence in the entertainment arena of the world a new market for the content developers of Pakistan will give them the freedom to work.”
It’s a brilliant effort by @fawadchaudhry it is time we make our presence in the entertainment arena of the world a new market for the content developers of Pakistan will give them freedom to work . Thankyou?????
— Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) October 23, 2020
Similarly, Hareem Farooq and Ahmed Jehanzeb lauded the project, saying what a big deal this could be for Pakistan’s entertainment industry.
This can b huge for our entertainment industry @fawadchaudhry https://t.co/mDduCwqX7x
— AhmedJehanzeb (@ahmedjehanzb) October 23, 2020
Bravo @fawadchaudhry Lets make this happen IA ???? https://t.co/K7eSBdbnHi
— Hareem Farooq (@FarooqHareem) October 23, 2020
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There was however one celebrity who had some concerns pertaining to the portal. Osman Khalif Butt took to Twitter and said, “Can someone – literally anyone else prepare this content guideline,” the Ehd e Wafa star wrote. “Let’s not forget PEMRA issued a show-cause notice to Udaari over ‘immoral content’ because it was highlighting child abuse.”
Can someone – literally anyone else prepare this content guideline.
Let's not forget PEMRA issued a show-cause notice to Udaari over 'immoral content' because it was highlighting child abuse. https://t.co/S6ZfuOJkUr— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) October 23, 2020
We can totally see where he is coming from!