Punjab’s Information and Culture Minister, Azma Bokhari has imposed lifetime ban on stage drama actresses promoting vulgarity.
“We have decided to impose a lifetime ban on the actors of stage drama in promoting vulgarity and indecency in theatres in the province. All theatres have also been instructed to comply with the rules. Violations will lead to show-cause notices followed by fines and eventually license cancellations,” Azma said in a meeting with theatre owners.
She directed the Punjab Arts Council to obtain undertakings from all theater owners and ordered the reopening of sealed theaters after compliance.
The minister cautioned that individuals seeking to advance indecency should not be part of Punjab’s theatre community, emphasising that theatres must cease to be centres of crudeness.
Bokhari revealed intentions to introduce new laws aimed at overseeing theatres, guaranteeing that productions suitable for families will receive backing from the government.
The authorities have been seriously considering this drastic measure, particularly targeting female dancers, in response to allegations of inappropriate performances in theatres across the province’s major cities.
Recently, the Punjab government, led by Maryam Nawaz, initiated a campaign aimed at promoting decency by establishing a seven-member advisory committee tasked with transforming commercial theatre plays into more acceptable and family-oriented productions.
