Pakistan’s Punjab to establish ‘Film City’ to revive filmmaking, empower local talent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Punjab province is set to establish the ‘Punjab Film City,’ a 50-acre facility in its capital Lahore, to revive filmmaking and empower content creators in the country, the provincial chief minister said on Sunday.

The cinema industry in Pakistan has experienced a prolonged decline over the past several decades, driven by a combination of political instability, censorship policies, the rise of television and digital entertainment, and the deterioration of cinema infrastructure, according to stakeholders.

Once-thriving theaters gradually shut down, and film production dwindled as investment dried up and audiences turned to alternative forms of entertainment. The lack of consistent policy support and modernization further eroded the industry’s capacity, leaving it struggling to compete both locally and internationally.

Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the Film City project, shaped through consultations with filmmakers, producers and actors, aims to create a sovereign, end to end pipeline for content creation in Pakistan.

“Punjab Film City will feature world class studios and sound stages, advanced VFX (visual effects) and post-production labs, diverse backlots with a central lake, a purpose built convention hall for international award shows, integrated media trade hubs, and a film & music school along with dedicated safety and emergency response infrastructure and a vibrant entertainment district,” she said on X.

The development follows a modest revival of cinema in Pakistan, marked by renewed investment, improved production quality, and the emergence of a new generation of filmmakers.

In recent years, multiplex cinemas have been established in major cities, attracting audiences back to the big screen, while some locally produced films have achieved commercial success and critical recognition.

Sharif said the Punjab Film City project will empower local talent, create thousands of jobs, and position Pakistan as a global hub for creative excellence by reducing reliance on foreign production services.

“Our vision is to transform Punjab into a global destination for technology, innovation, heritage and culture,” she said. “Punjab Film City is a gift to our youth and artists... a space where their dreams can take flight and the true, vibrant face of Pakistan is showcased to the world.”