Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered the creation of Pakistan's first royalty law for the film industry. The Chief Minister also sanctioned a rebate scheme for films produced in the province, offering 35 percent for Punjabi productions and 20 percent for Urdu films.
Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb led the inaugural meeting of the Punjab Film Authority in Lahore to discuss these developments. Officials decided to launch an online one-window facility to assist filmmakers in locating appropriate shooting sites.
A new Film City is scheduled to open in Lahore on 15 December 2026. The financing committee will review the Film City Authority’s budget of more than Rs589 million for the 2026-27 financial year.
The authority received approval to hire 26 staff members in the initial phase to fill 53 sanctioned positions. Plans were approved to restore old cinemas, install solar power systems, and provide the public with affordable entertainment options.
The meeting also agreed to implement an online booking system for cinemas. To improve the skills of young filmmakers, a training programme featuring international experts in modern techniques was approved.
Aurangzeb stated that the chief minister wants Punjab to become a global-standard screen tourism destination within five years. Aurangzeb said, "Film City will be a complete ecosystem for reviving the local film industry, attracting investment, creating employment opportunities and providing quality and affordable entertainment to the public."
