The business of cinemas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) city Peshawar has witnessed a sharp decline for a few years but they have been shut down completely for the past year due to the covid-19 pandemic situation.
People in Peshawar associated with the cinemas are facing terrible losses while most of them have shifted their dimensions.
The cinema halls in the city are mostly dismantled and a few of the cinema buildings have been demolished to construct plazas over them.
Read Also
Islamia University Professor Expelled Over Harassment Charges
In the provincial capital, nearly three to four cinemas are functional, whereas, 12 to 13 cinemas in other districts are not operational for many years.
There were times in the province when people used to relish movies in the cinemas across the city.
In non-functional cinemas, the owners are still paying hefty amounts in taxes and other payments.
Not only the business owners, but artists associated with the field are also suffering the worst economic crisis.
News360 contacted famous Pashto artist Amaan Khan who maintained that artists in Peshawar city were already suffering due to lack of work availability.
“Amid covid-19, artists all over the world are provided with financial aid in contrast with the situation in Pakistan”, Amaan Khan added.
The artist is of the view that in Peshawar, artists are facing severe financial problems and the government is acting deaf and mute towards the issue.
“The closure of Nishtar Hall and other cinemas has badly affected the citizens and artists”.
Amaan Khan demanded that performing stars are in hopes of financial aid from the government and demanded their needs should be addressed.