The committee will oversee financial support for filmmakers
To support Pakistan’s struggling film industry, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the creation of the province’s first-ever Film City.
Along with this, a state-of-the-art post-production lab, film studio, and dedicated film school will also be created.
This major initiative is part of a broader strategy to revive local cinema, which has seen a dramatic decline in recent decades.
To ensure transparent funding and smooth execution, the Punjab government has also formed an eight-member body named the Punjab Film Fund Disbursement Committee.
The committee will oversee financial support for filmmakers and evaluate film proposals.
Senior Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb will serve as chairperson.
Meanwhile, Azma Bukhari, Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, and Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora are among the key members.
Film City will be developed on land allocated within the Nawaz Sharif IT City.
This location is expected to serve as a creative and logistical hub for the province’s film-related activities.
The committee has been given the responsibility to evaluate the quality and potential of submitted projects, decide eligibility criteria, and distribute grants.
It will also have the authority to form sub-committees for more focused tasks.
According to an official notification, initial review of project plans and progress reports has already taken place.
With this move, Punjab becomes the first province in Pakistan to formally invest in long-term cinematic infrastructure and film education.
This announcement comes at a critical time for Pakistani cinema.
Once a dominant player in the South Asian film market, the country’s industry has declined significantly.
Issues such as outdated technology, poor scripts, lack of professional standards, and a shrinking number of functioning cinemas have plagued its progress.
The rise of foreign films and high-quality television content has only made matters worse.
Over the last two decades, there have been moments of promise.
Films like Bol, Waar, Verna, Parchi, and The Legend of Maula Jatt brought audiences back to theatres, but those successes have not been sustained.
Industry insiders have long cited the absence of proper film schools and government-backed funding as major barriers to growth.
With the establishment of the Film Fund Disbursement Committee and the infrastructure to support it, Punjab’s government is taking a bold step.
The hope is that with consistent policy support and access to resources, a new generation of filmmakers will emerge and help restore Pakistani cinema.
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