Central Board of Film Censors (Pakistan)
Background
The Central Board of Film Censors (abbreviated as CBFC) (Urdu: ہیئت برائے ضوابطِ مرکزی فلم) is a film censorship board and rating system body under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for the Government of Pakistan. Since the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan its jurisdiction has been limited to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Cantonments, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan; with separate censor boards for Punjab (Punjab Film Censor Board, PFCB) and Sindh (Sindh Board of Film Censors, SBFC) headquartered in Lahore and Karachi respectively. Though the CBFC maintains an unofficial dominant position over the latter boards.
CBFC
- U: Any film with U certification is fit for unrestricted public screening and without the need for parental guidance. These films contain little violence, no sexual scenes and no abusive language.
- F: Family (akin to U above)
- PG: Akin to PG-13
- A: Any film with A certification is restricted to adults or needs parental guidance for viewing. These films contain significant violence, sexual scenes and abusive language and can include controversial adult themes considered unsuitable for young viewers.
SBFC
- U: Universal, approved for general audiences
- PG: Parental Guidance
- PG-13: Parents Cautioned
- PG-15: Suitable for 15 years and older
- 18+: For Adults only
Pre-CBFC
1st Bumper (1947–1963)
Nicknames: "Central Board of Film Censors", "No Pakistani coat of arms", "Film Censors Urdu text"
Bumper: we see the certificate, the text in Pakistani "Central Board of" with "Film Censors Urdu" text. The text it appears in Pakistani "This is to certify film <MOVIE NAME>" with info certificate. The movie is rated:
- U: Any film with U certification is fit for unrestricted public screening and without the need for parental guidance. These films contain little violence, no sexual scenes and no abusive language.
Variants: on Gulbadan, the negative certificate as 1 second.
Music/Sounds: N/A
Availability: seen on theatres on film in Pakistan. Also seen on produced films by the company.
Notes: The first certificate in Pakistan. The film was used on theatres in Pakistan.
Central Board of Film Censors
2nd bumper (1963–present)
Nicknames: "Central Board of Film Censors II", "Pakistani coat of arms", "CERTIFICATE text"
Bumper: on white background, the coat of arms of Pakistan just the text "CENTRAL BOARD OF FILM CENSORS" and the "CERTIFICATION" was in Pakistani language. the <MOVIE NAME> appears the text. The movie rated are:
- U: Any film with U certification is fit for unrestricted public screening and without the need for parental guidance. These films contain little violence, no sexual scenes and no abusive language.
- F: Family (akin to U above)
- PG: Akin to PG-13
- A: Any film with A certification is restricted to adults or needs parental guidance for viewing. These films contain significant violence, sexual scenes and abusive language and can include controversial adult themes considered unsuitable for young viewers.
Variants: In English, which reads the certificate.
Music/Sounds: N/A
Availability: seen on films in Pakistan.
Notes: A new certificate.
