(Web Desk) - Actor and musician Haroon Shahid has criticised financial exploitation in the entertainment industry.
During a podcast interview, he said production houses often delay payments for months, causing problems for both performers and crew members.
"This has become a common practice. Production houses keep delaying payments for months. Junior artists are affected the most, but even established actors have to keep chasing their rightful payments," he said.
The actor alleged that a lack of accountability and transparency allows industry figures to exploit workers who fear professional repercussions if they speak out.
Shahid also reflected on the state of Pakistan's music industry, arguing that the economic model supporting independent musicians has largely collapsed.
"The music industry is ending; there is simply no more financial scope in it for independent artists," he said, attributing the decline to shrinking live performance opportunities and the absence of reliable royalty structures.