Science & Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter on Friday to reveal that a Pakistani version of Netflix is in the offing.
Chaudhry said the technical aspect of the first-of-a-kind OTT platform has been completed, and that PEMRA has now 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. “We will be all set to launch in PPP (Public-Private Partnership) mode.”
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
The need for a local OTT platform has been emphasised upon by many Pakistani artists, especially after five Pakistani original series were picked up by an Indian streaming giant. Earlier, director Asim Abbasi, whose web series Churails garnered rave reviews on ZEE5, shared his thoughts on the same. Asked why he thinks Pakistan is still struggling to reach the heights Indian content has, the film-maker replied, “Streaming platforms give power back to content creators. Their mandate of diversification allows for new voices to come to the forefront. It’s a huge stepping stone in the right direction and I expect a lot of visionary, experimental film-makers from Pakistan will turn to the web in the coming years.”
Fawad rocks! Imran flops
It seems our Science and Technology Ministry is on the move. Be it ventilators, corona kits, corona vaccines, and now a Pakistani version of netflix. Good job Fawad Chaudhry. Keep it up.
I think it shouldn’t be called “Pakistani version of Netflix” because it gives a whole different thing than what it actually is.
Imran Khan rocks and Fawad ch is his worker, anyone against Imran Khan is patwari
Video Streaming, Roku, short cut of Netflix and WIPO, Geneva.
When it comes to content whether be Netflxi, or other content of entertainment, news, clips all are copy righted, under the local WIPO offices.
Honorable Fawad Chaudhry suggest to please discuss with the local WIPO office in Islamabad for content duplication under other technology platform copyriight.
Roku is also very keen to collaborate under streaming, and we can make a local version for content licensing.
While this is a good move, but i think reasons cited are not correct which is why we have to see if Pakistani audience will opt for it or not.
On the other hand:
The problem “Why Pakistan is still struggling to reach the heights Indian content” is the same question that many were asking in 90s when Lollywood trying to compete with Bollywood. And the answer didn’t change either. It has nothing to do with absence of a local OTT platform, rather it has a lot more to do with the quality of content itself and understanding of audience wishes, taste etc. The stakes has been already raised for a very long time. Does “Diliris Ertugrul” was launched in Pakistan on an OTT platform ?
My Request to Pakistani Media Industry: Focus on quality of your work, from story to direction to editing to camera to acting – you have a lot catch up before you start missing an OTT platform.
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