Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to Jump Start Creative Economy through Digital Platforms in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, July 01 (SABAH): RINSTRA in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would create entrepreneurship opportunities and economic livelihood in the creative sector. A US$ 150 million creative economy to be kick-started through digital content creation and consumption.

A meeting was held at Pakistan Television Headquarter, between Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb and CEO RINSTRA Amir Jahangir to discuss entrepreneurship and foster the creative economy through platform models.
The rise of the creative industries presents significant opportunities for transforming youthful energy into new ideas, organization, and a future vision for societies. The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting appreciated the initiatives of RINSTRA and showed great interest in collaboration to uplift film, culture and heritage, drama, and fine arts in promoting the country’s creative potential at both international as well as regional levels. The Minister said, “providing quality arts education can help the young population gain skills and attributes that are currently in high demand, such as problem solving, flexibility, persistence, and cooperation.

The Minister appreciated the efforts of RINSTRA and expressed her desire that the Pakistan Television Corp. should work with RINSTRA for digital initiatives. In this regard multiple national video and music competitions would be planned.
She also asked RINSTRA to train the PTV employees for digital content creation through mobile phones, including mobile journalism and mobile film making.

Amir Jahangir, CEO RINSTRA briefed the Minister that RINSTRA is Pakistan’s first short-form video platform for emerging storytellers and filmmakers. He said, “it is the only platform for Pakistanis to showcase and express their content through a user generated approach”. He further said that RINSTRA is working with more than 60 universities across Pakistan to create opportunities for the young people to explore, create, showcase, and monetize the creative economy. RINSTRA is working in collaboration with the academia, industry, and the civil society to kickstart a new creative economy of USD 150 million that can generate a livelihood for more than 400,000 content creators in the next three years.

With the changing content consumption patterns, young people are particularly adept at accessing information and content through digital platforms, as they are at using digital apps and content for these platforms. With expanding online networks and digital technologies, creativity has become an increasingly popular way for youth to express themselves that help to foster social cohesion. There is a need to equip youth with the skills and techniques to run creative enterprises, help them in developing artistic creative skills by integrating culture into education systems.
The Finance Bill 2022 has proposed a five years’ tax holiday for film procedures, and on establishing new Cinema houses, production houses, film museums, and tax rebate on export of film and drama for ten years, as well as producers income is exempted from Income Tax.

Eight percent withholding tax on distributors and producers has also been withdrawn. The import of machinery, equipment and other items shall be exempt from Custom Duty for five years. Finance Bill 2018 and Custom Act, 1969 is being amended through Finance Bill 2022 to introduce zero% sale tax and entertainment duty on import of equipment for film and drama. Because of these measures, Pakistan’s film industry will be rejuvenated whereas Pakistan’s severed relation with international media will be restored. Encouragement of new talent will provide career opportunities to youth in the film industry.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is working on a mission to inform, educate and entertain the people and to the Projection and promotion of Government’s policies and programs as well as the soft, progressive, and democratic image of Pakistan. MOIB is playing a vital role in creating an informed society and promoting national cohesion and media development.

RINSTRA is the outcome of the thought leadership of Dice Foundation USA’s Creative Arts and Media Initiative (DICE CAM). It is part of Dice Foundation’s National Innovation Basket (NIB) program, which aims to create media as cornerstones of Pakistan’s growth strategy.

RINSTRA is Pakistan’s first short-form digital media platform for on-demand streaming and for creation of user generated original content on iRINSTRA. It also has a feature for Content Competition where more than 100 academic institutions in Pakistan are competing in various thematic areas. The Fest feature of the application has provided some of the leading Film Festivals to partner with RINSTRA for digital viewing of their films and documentaries. This has created an unprecedented experience for viewers in the country.

Creative and independent content with premier shows and films can be accessed on RINSTRA by visiting the website http://www.rinstra.com/ or by downloading apps from Google Play Store and/or Apple App Store