After more than 10 days since its debut in Pakistan, the fantasy-comedy film ‘Barbie’ has finally received approval for screening in Punjab.
The movie’s release in the province was initially stopped due to alleged ‘objectionable content,’ despite having obtained a no-objection certificate from the Punjab Film Censor Board.
Talking to media, Punjab Information Secretary Ali Nawaz Malik had earlier stated that the caretaker government stopped the film’s screening based on public complaints. However, on Monday, Punjab interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi instructed the censor board to make a prompt decision regarding the exhibition of the Hollywood film.
Following the directive, the full censor board convened and reviewed the movie, leading to the approval for its screening in Punjab, as announced in a statement from the Chief Minister’s office.
The film ‘Barbie,’ directed by Greta Gerwig, features Margot Robbie as the iconic doll and Ryan Gosling as her boyfriend Ken.
Prior to its approval in Pakistan, the movie faced a ban in Vietnam due to scenes depicting China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.
This is not the first instance of film screenings being banned in Pakistan.
Previously, the government banned ‘Joyland,’ a Cannes prize-winning film and Pakistan’s entry for the 2023 Oscars, for being deemed “clearly repugnant to the norms of decency and morality” in the country. Although it was later cleared by the national censor board after a government-ordered review, it remained banned in Punjab, reported by local media.
The film industry in Pakistan continues to navigate challenges related to censorship and content approval, with controversies often arising over the nature and depiction of content in films.
