Pakistan's Ministry of Culture is likely to take the radical decision to allow the screening of Indian films, on a selective basis.

An outline of what type of films are to be released for screening is being prepared for the cabinet's approval. Currently there are no theatrical releases of Indian films in Pakistan - and vice-versa.

'Lollywood' - 'L' for its base in Lahore - provides similar fare to the Indian film industry with song-and-dance titles. Nevertheless, pirated DVDs and videos of Hindi films are hugely popular in Pakistan and are openly stocked in video shops - despite a government ban which is more than 50 years old.

In Mumbai, popular Indian film Singer Sonu Nigam has recorded a song for Pakistani director Javed Sheikh's film titled Khule Aasmaan Ke Neechey (Under Open Skies). With music by Pakistani composer Amjad Bobby, the Rs 5 crore budget Khule Aasmaan Ke Neechey would be the costliest Pakistani film ever made. The film is about the children getting engaged at a very young age in Pakistan, a theme which has deep resonance across the border.