A GLASGOW production company has won a major coup by getting a #250,000 Pakistan television drama to be filmed entirely in Scotland.
Elysee Productions International, run by Scotsman Zulkar Ahmed, now hopes that this serial will pave the way for other similar television projects and help to promote Scottish tourism in Pakistan.
Company spokesman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said the company hoped its new project would give viewers in Pakistan a real insight into what Scotland is really like.
Mrs Ahmed-Sheikh said: ''The people in Pakistan have no idea what Scotland is like, and we thought it would be a wonderful idea to film here, promote Scotland, and for people there to see what Scotland is really like.
''Hopefully, once they have seen the drama they would want to come on a visit.''
This is the first time that a Pakistan television serial has been filmed in Scotland. In the past, when the television company has filmed abroad it has been in England.
The 13-part serial is being written by one of Pakistan's most best known writers - Haseena Moin, and it is hoped filming will begin in Scotland at the end of July or beginning of August.
Miss Moin is in Scotland researching the project, and last night, at a reception in Glasgow, it was officially launched by its producers.
The drama, Des Pardes, will be looking at issues ranging from mixed marriages to drugs and gang warfare.
Mrs Ahmed-Sheikh added: ''This is a huge project with costing of around #250,000. I think we must take this step to pave the way for more dramas to be made in this country and obviously to also promote Scotland.
''Our next project is going to be a film which we are again going to make entirely in Scotland.''
q Full Monty star Robert Carlyle will be helping a young screenwriter on the ladder to success - by getting their work on to the big screen.
Carlyle joins Trainspotting director Danny Boyle, actress Emma Thompson and The English Patient director Anthony Minghella on the judging panel for the Jerwood Film Prize. The winner will see his or her script turned into a film by production company Working Title, which made the box office hit Four Weddings And A Funeral.
The finished ten-minute film will be shown at all Warner Village Cinemas.
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