Punjab Film City to Open on December 15
Punjab’s first modern film city will be inaugurated on 15 December. The date was announced on Sunday at the first meeting of the Punjab Film Authority, chaired by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.
The meeting approved a set of decisions aimed at reviving the local film industry, promoting modern filmmaking and restoring Lahore’s place as the country’s cinematic hub. The film city was first announced by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in April as an integrated media production hub in Lahore.
A first royalty law for artists
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the drafting of Pakistan’s first royalty law for artists. She directed that the proposed law be presented at the next meeting of the Film Authority.
A royalty law matters because it deals with what artists earn after a film is made. At present, an actor, singer or writer can be paid once for a project and see little return when that work is later shown, streamed or reused. A formal royalty system would give artists a continuing claim on later earnings. That is the gap the proposed law is meant to close, and it is why the government has put it at the front of the film city plan rather than treating it as an afterthought.
The meeting also approved a film and music school, a film trading house, a post-production facility and a studio complex with modern soundstages. Pakistan’s largest convention centre will also be built in Punjab.
Rebates, locations and training
Marriyum Aurangzeb directed officials to present a film rebate framework at next week’s meeting. A rebate policy gives financial support to filmmakers and is meant to help improve production quality. In practice, rebates lower the cost of shooting in Punjab, which makes the province a more attractive choice for producers who might otherwise film elsewhere.
A single-window online platform will also be launched to help filmmakers choose suitable shooting locations. The point of a single window is simple. Instead of dealing with several offices for permissions and locations, a filmmaker deals with one platform. That saves time and removes a common reason for delays in local productions.
The meeting also reviewed progress on forming the Punjab Film Fund Committee and setting up six specialised sub-committees. Capacity-building training programmes for young filmmakers, conducted by international experts, will also be launched.
Budget, staffing and old cinemas
A proposed budget of Rs589 million for the Film City Authority was sent to the finance committee for review. The authority also approved hiring 26 people against 53 vacant posts in the first phase. The board will hold hiring and firing powers within the Film City Authority.
The meeting approved plans to restore old cinema halls, equip them with solar power systems and introduce online ticketing. Old cinemas matter to this plan because they are where local audiences actually watch films. Restoring them, rather than only building new studios, connects the production side of the industry with the exhibition side.
The move follows the Punjab government’s plan to launch a one dollar cinema project. Marriyum Aurangzeb said Maryam Nawaz aims to turn Punjab into an international hub for screen tourism within five years. She added that the initiative would showcase the province’s culture and heritage on the global stage.
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Frequently asked questions
When will Punjab’s first modern film city open?
It will be inaugurated on 15 December, as announced at the first meeting of the Punjab Film Authority on 25 October 2026.
What is Pakistan’s first royalty law for artists?
It is a proposed law, approved for drafting by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, that would give artists royalty rights over their work. The draft is to be presented at the next meeting of the Film Authority.
What facilities will the film city include?
A film and music school, a film trading house, a post-production facility and a studio complex with modern soundstages, along with a rebate framework and a single-window online platform for shooting locations.
What is the budget for the Film City Authority?
A proposed budget of Rs589 million has been sent to the finance committee for review.
