Pakistani actor Faysal Quraishi has expressed concern over a proposed move to remove advance tax on foreign television shows and advertisements warning that it could negatively impact the country’s local entertainment industry.
In a video shared on social media, Quraishi acknowledged the government’s recent efforts to support filmmaking and drama production in Pakistan. However, he said the proposed tax relief for international content has created confusion and worry within the industry.
“On one hand, there is support for local productions but on the other, there are plans to ease taxes on foreign projects,” he said, questioning the contradiction in policy direction.
Quraishi emphasized that Pakistani dramas have gained strong international recognition with audiences in countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Azerbaijan and Türkiye. He questioned why foreign content should be promoted when local productions are already performing well globally.
The actor highlighted the employment impact of such a decision noting that a single television production can involve around 100 people, including actors, writers, directors, technical crew and vendors. He warned that allocating even a small number of broadcast slots to foreign content could result in significant job losses for local professionals.
He also pointed out that opportunities for dubbing artists have declined in recent years due to the increasing use of artificial intelligence, further reducing employment avenues in the industry.
Quraishi urged authorities to reconsider the proposal stressing that the decision could harm thousands of workers who depend on the local entertainment sector for their livelihoods.
Actor and director Shamoon Abbasi has also raised similar concerns, stating that it took years to rebuild Pakistan’s drama industry after a previous influx of foreign content, and warning that such a move could once again disrupt the sector.
Keywords:
Faysal Quraishi tax issue, Pakistan drama industry foreign content, advance tax foreign shows Pakistan, Pakistani actors concerns 2026, local entertainment jobs Pakistan
