Central Board of Film Censors

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For other uses, see CBFC.

Central Board of Film Censors
Punjab Film Censor Board
Sindh Board of Film Censors
Formation1963; 59 years ago (1963)[1]
PurposeFilm Certification
HeadquartersCentral: Islamabad
Punjab: Lahore
Sindh: Karachi
Region served
Central:

Punjab: Punjab
Sindh: Sindh
Parent organisation
Central: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Punjab: Government of Punjab
Sindh: Government of Sindh

The Central Board of Film Censors (abbreviated as CBFC) (Urdu: مرکزی ہیئت برائے ضوابطِ فلم) is a film censorship board and rating system body under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for the Government of Pakistan. Since the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan its jurisdiction has been limited to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Cantonments, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan; with separate censor boards for Punjab (Punjab Film Censor Board, PFCB) and Sindh (Sindh Board of Film Censors, SBFC) headquartered in Lahore and Karachi respectively.[1][2] Though the CBFC maintains an unofficial dominant position over the latter boards.[2]

These boards are tasked with regulating the public screening of films under the provisions of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979.

Function[]

The Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979 focuses upon a broad policy framework and administrative procedures for the certification of films for public screening.[3] The film censorship code covers wide aspects of "morals and ethnics" which lays down the guiding principles for cinema in Pakistan. Strict policy has been adopted to ensure that no scene or dialogue in a film is passed which is considered "derogatory to the accepted moral standards of the society". Certifications is refused if, in the opinion of the board, the film or any part thereof:

  1. ridicules, disparages or attacks Islam or any religious sect, caste and creed.
  2. questions the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan or hurts national sentiments.
  3. undermines public order, decency or morality, which includes vulgar dialogues, songs, or gestures.
  4. glorifies vice or crime or amounts to incitement of a criminal offense.

Any film refused certification may appeal within thirty days of the date of refusal.

Certification[]

CBFC[]

  • U: Any film with U certification is fit for unrestricted public screening and without the need for parental guidance. These films contain little violence, no sexual scenes and no abusive language.
  • F: Family (akin to U above)
  • PG: Akin to PG-13
  • A: Any film with A certification is restricted to adults or needs parental guidance for viewing. These films contain significant violence, sexual scenes and abusive language and can include controversial adult themes considered unsuitable for young viewers.

SBFC[]

  • U: Universal, approved for general audiences
  • PG: Parental Guidance
  • PG-13: Parents Cautioned
  • PG-15: Suitable for 15 years and older
  • 18+: For Adults only

Source: Jawaid, Mohammad Kamran (4 November 2018). "Spotlight: A House Divided". Dawn.

Chairperson[]

# Name From To
1 Anwar Hussain 1963 1972
2 Aslam Siddiqui 1972 1973
3 Jalalud Din 1973 1973
4 Syed Abid Ali 1973 1974
5 M M H Peerzada 1974 1976
6 Syed Sajjad Haider Jillani 1976 1977
7 Anwar Abbas Ansari 1977 1982
8 Safdar Mahmood 1982 1986
9 Abdur Rasheed 1986 1988
10 Syed Sajjad Haider Jillani 1988 1994
11 Jamal Khan Jogezai 1994 1996
12 Malik Yasrab 1996 1998
13 Malik Mohammad Rafique 1998 2001
14 Abbas Khan 2001 2003
15 Ziauddin 2003 2006
16 Ejaz Illahi Paracha 2006 2006
17 Azfar Shafquat 2006 2008
18 Malik Shahnawaz Noon 2008 2012
19 Muhammad Ashraf Gondal 2012 2013
20 Raja Mustafa Hyder 2013 2014
21 Mobashir Hasan 2014 2018
22 Danyal Gilani 2018 2020
23 M. Arshad Munir 2020 present

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Jawaid, Mohammad Kamran (4 November 2018). "Spotlight: A House Divided". Dawn. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b "To Screen or Not to Screen". Newsline. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. ^ "THE MOTION PICTURES ORDINANCE, 1979" (PDF). Wipo.int. Retrieved 3 December 2021.

External links[]

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