ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Monday announced to honour Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, country’s first Oscar-winner, who directed a documentary on the plight of female victims of acid attacks in the society.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Sharmeen would receive highest civil award for her accomplishment.
Agencies add: Obaid-Chinoy won the prize for the documentary ‘Saving Face,’ which chronicles a London-based plastic surgeon who travels to Pakistan to treat women who have had acid thrown on them. The attacks are often carried out by angry husbands or spurned lovers.
While media and political parties are often sensitive to criticism, the prestige of an Oscar appears to have outweighed any qualms the government might feel about celebrating a film that shows the country in a bad light to international audience.
More than 100 people, mainly women and girls, are disfigured in acid attacks every year in Pakistan, although groups helping survivors say many more cases go unreported.
The director for her part praised the resilience and bravery of the women documented in the film as she received the award in Los Angeles. She dedicated the award to all women working for change in Pakistan. “Don’t give up on your dreams,” said Sharmeen, who co-directed the documentary with Daniel Junge. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday felicitated Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy for highlighting a sensitive topic of acid attacks on women with utmost sensibility and creativity.
President Zardari said the country’s artists had all the potential to thrive and prove their skills in the field of arts and culture. The president lauded Sharmeen for bringing laurels to the country by excelling in film-making and sending a message to the world about Pakistan’s softer image. Prime Minister Gilani congratulated the only Pakistani national for grabbing the Oscar at 84th Academy Awards.
Gilani said the award gave the Pakistani nation an opportunity to take pride, adding the Oscar award highlighted the positive side of the country.
The prime minister said, “We are proud of Sharmeen who won for Pakistan such a prestigious award”. Gilani said that the award will help showcase positive steps taken by the present government in the world. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan also congratulated Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy for earning the distinction for Pakistan.