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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Pakistan’s young parliamentarians visit Communist Party HQ in Sichuan

By Masood Sattar Khan in Beijing
(Pakistan News & Features Services)


A delegation of Pakistan’s young parliamentarians visited Hangshui town in Sichuan province where they were briefed about grassroots structure of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The party building in the town was shown to the delegation and they also interacted with members of the local community.



Tang Wenjin, the Vice Secretary General of the CPC Sichuan Province, hosted a luncheon reception in the honour of the 15-member delegation, comprising of the young parliamentarians of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz).



Both sides discussed areas of mutual cooperation and discussed the current projects underway in Pakistan with Chinese collaboration.



Speaking on the occasion, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, a Member National Assembly, observed that he overwhelmed by the warmth and affection extended to him and his delegation by the Chinese government and the Communist Party.



He remarked that the Chinese investment of $30 billion which was announced during Punjab Chief Minister’s recent visit will play a big role in prosperity of Pakistan and bringing the people of the two nations even closer. 



The delegation also visited Sichuan University and the Pakistan Study Centre based at this varsity. The professors and senior university staff members briefed the delegation about the cooperation between the University with various Pakistani universities including the Punjab University and the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).



The delegation expressed gratitude to the university administration for taking such keen interest in Pakistan studies and for enrolling Pakistani students at the university. 



Vice Admiral Shafqat Jawed takes charge of KPT Chairman

Vice Admiral Shafqat Jawed
By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)


Vice Admiral Shafqat Jawed has taken over as Chairman of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) on April 23. 


Having a vast experience of Navy and marine operations, he is all set to steer the port to achieve goals and objectives assigned to him by the federal government and deal with the port affairs professionally. 



With he sort of experience he brings with him, Admiral Shafqat  is expected to  create new avenues true to its  potentials, particularly  Pakistan Deep Water Container Port which is likely to  attain completion during his tenure as Chairman KPT.


Before joining KPT,, Vice Admiral Shafqat Jawed was working as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Admin) at NHQ. He has served at various Command and Staff positions including Commanding Officer PNS Shah Jahan, directing staff at PN War College, Director Naval Operations, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations) at NHQ, Director Operations and Plans JSHQ, Commander Auxiliary and Marine Warfare Squadron, Mission Commander at China for F-22 P Project, Additional Secretary at Ministry of Defence, Flag Officer Sea Training and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations and Projects). 





His career started when he was commissioned in the operations branch of Pakistan Navy in June 1978. His professional course that he undertook during his illustrious career includes Naval Command Course (USA) and National Defence Course at NDU. In recognition of his meritorious services he was also awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military).

China’s film industry insiders call for 3D halt


By Masood Sattar Khan in Beijing
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Industry insiders at the ongoing Beijing International Film Festival 2014 are calling for an end to the 3D craze in China to ensure sound development of the market.

"The 3D film market has grown fast in China but many films lack quality," Yang Buting, Chairman of China Film Distribution and Exhibition Association and China Film Overseas Promotional Corporation, stated.

"If this kind of vicious competition is not contained, it will be a disaster for the 3D film market," said Yang, former chairman of the China Film Group Corporation, the largest film producer in the country.
Yang's remarks were echoed by Paul Anderson, director of the blockbuster series Resident Evil.
Anderson stated that some North American and European filmmakers should apologise for the bad 3D movies that have been released.

"China is one of the most vibrant 3D markets," he said, but so was America in 2010, and then it collapsed in four short years.
3D films, which enhance the illusion of depth perception, became more successful throughout the 2000s, culminating in the unprecedented success of Avatar in 2009.
In China, most big hits are 3D films, which cost between 100 yuan and 120 yuan (16 to 19 U.S. dollars) for a ticket. A 2D film costs about 70 yuan.
To increase profits, Hollywood has been promoting 3D films exclusively for the Chinese market.
The 2014 version of RoboCop, which debuted in February, was in 3D exclusively in China and in 2D in other parts of the world.
 RoboCop, with an average of 5.5 on U.S. movie review site Rottentomatoes.com, notched up 329 million yuan in China, or 20 percent of its global box office.
Some industry insiders said converting 3D movies was done merely to make more money, rather than create a better experience for moviegoers.
Many filmgoers have complained that so-called 3D films have poor effects and some only had 3D effects at the beginning of the movies.
For some, it is an annoying distraction wearing 3D glasses. For others, it even creates nausea and headaches.
"It's hard to enjoy true 3D films with good pictures and effects in Chinese cinemas," Yang Buting said.
“More than 20,000 movie screens in China can play 3D films and more companies are competing to sell their 3D projection equipment, which used to cost between 80,000 yuan and 150,000 yuan. Now equipment is no more than 20,000 yuan,” Yang added.

"This kind of vicious competition has lowered the quality and cost of 3D films, thus upsetting viewers," he said.

Paul Anderson told Xinhua that it is better to give audiences a choice.
"If you don't give them a choice and you deliver bad 3D products, eventually they will stop going to the cinema. American people are choosing to watch 2D rather than 3D films," he said.

As the largest movie manufacturer in the world with the best technologies, the U.S. should not just simply convert 2D films into 3D versions to make money, said Yang, as it was cheating consumers.
In order to improve the 3D film market, Chinese enterprises are beginning to seek partnerships with international players to produce high-quality 3D films.

Fantasy Media Group (FMG), a Sino-Canada joint venture, was set up in Shanghai's pilot Free Trade Zone this year to boost 3D production capability in the country.
"There is a lack of industrial standards for 3D film production in China and we are pushing for it," Ma Xiaorui, an FMG Asia regional manager, asserted.

Eric Deren, a U.S. senior stereographer, felt that there is a tremendous opportunity to grow 3D in China and not make the same mistakes as in other parts of the world.




China is in a very good position to be able to learn from all that and move forward and succeed tremendously in this area," he said.