The Pakistan Film Producers Association chairman on Monday slammed the decision to lift the self-imposed ban on Indian movies, in place for around two months, with Nawazuddin Siddiqui's romcom Freaky Ali. Syed Noor described it as a “commercial move devoid of patriotism“, wondering who had imposed the ban and who'd lifted it.

Pakistan Film Exhibitors Association chairman Zoraiz Lashari said it's a unanimous decision made with the consent of exhibitors and film stakeholders. Buzz is, cinema owners across Pakistan have suffered losses of about Pakistani Rs 150 million and some 100 employees have lost their jobs since the ban on Indian movies.

Film director Shehzad Rafique supported the move, regretting that recent Pakistani movies, including his own Salute, did not elicit a good response. Filmmaker, actor and director Javed Sheikh argued that whichever film has potential - Indian or Pakistani - should get shows at cinemas. “I am working on my new film Wajood and I won't mind if a big banner Indian film is screened against mine,“ he reiterated.