Punjabi films will receive a 35 percent rebate.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed the enactment of the country’s first royalty law.
This law is specifically meant for the film industry operating within the province.
She also approved a rebate plan for Punjabi and Urdu films made in Punjab.
This was stated by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb during an important meeting in Lahore.
She was presiding over the maiden meeting of the Punjab Film Authority at the time.
The proposed royalty law will be presented at the authority’s next scheduled meeting.
Aurangzeb was quoted as making this statement in a recent press release.
The rebate for films made in Punjab will differ based on the language used.
Punjabi films will receive a 35 percent rebate, while Urdu films will get 20 percent.
The rebate policy aims to provide financial support to filmmakers across the province.
It is also expected to encourage quality film production and attract fresh investment.
The meeting also decided to introduce an online one-window facility for filmmakers.
This facility will help filmmakers identify suitable shooting locations more easily going forward.
Several other key decisions were also taken during the meeting to revive the industry.
These decisions aim to promote modern filmmaking and restore Lahore’s position in cinema.
The initiative is being dubbed as the biggest ever provincial intervention for cinema revival.
It aims to establish Lahore as a hub for film, drama, culture and tourism.
A dedicated Film City is also set to be inaugurated in Lahore soon.
This inauguration is scheduled to take place on December 15, 2026.
The proposed Film City will feature a dedicated film and music school on site.
It will also include a film museum and a film trading house within its premises.
The complex will house a post-production facility along with a full studio setup.
It will also feature state-of-the-art film studios for modern production needs.
Additionally, it will include Pakistan’s largest convention centre as part of the complex.
The Film City Authority’s budget exceeds PKR 589 million for the financial year 2026 2027.
This budget has been referred to the financing committee for further review.
Approval was granted to recruit 26 employees for the film authority in its first phase.
This recruitment comes against a total of 53 sanctioned posts for the authority.
The authority’s board will have the power to make appointments and dismissals internally.
The meeting also reviewed progress on establishing six separate committees under the authority.
These include the Punjab Film Fund Committee, among other dedicated committees.
Approval was also granted for restoring old cinemas across the province.
This includes installing solar systems and providing affordable entertainment facilities for the public.
The meeting decided to introduce an online booking system for cinemas across Punjab.
A training programme was also approved to enhance skills among young filmmakers in the province.
International experts will provide training in modern filmmaking techniques under this programme.
Aurangzeb said the chief minister wants Punjab to become a global standard screen tourism destination.
She added that this goal is expected to be achieved within the next five years.
Maryam Aurangzeb added that Punjab’s unique culture and heritage would be showcased globally through film.
