LAHORE:Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Punjab, Azma Bokhari, has announced that, under the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, historic and transformative steps have been initiated to revive film industry in Punjab.
The minister stated that, in line with the Chief Minister’s vision, revolutionary measures are being implemented to restore the long-declining film industry and put it back on its feet. For the first time in Punjab’s history, a substantial fund of Rs2 billion has been allocated for the revival of the sector.
Sharing details of key initiatives undertaken by the Information and Culture Department, the minister revealed that work has commenced on a world-class ‘Lahore Film City’ built to universal standards. The project will include state-of-the-art laboratories, enabling filmmakers to carry out editing and post-production locally, eliminating the need to travel abroad.
Following a rigorous scrutiny process, 32 individuals have been selected for film production. Each filmmaker will receive Rs30 million per film. An initial amount of Rs15 million will be released at the script submission stage, while the remaining funds will be disbursed upon completion of the film. Selected filmmakers will be given one year to complete their projects.
She stated that to encourage the film industry, the government has decided to provide an additional incentive: filmmakers will receive a 25% bonus based on their film’s box office earnings.
Applications from new filmmakers will be invited in the upcoming fiscal year starting in June. Additionally, five exceptionally talented young individuals will be provided with special funding for film projects. The minister also announced that, to reduce electricity costs and provide relief to cinema owners, cinemas will be transitioned to solar energy systems. Azma Bokhari emphasised that these initiatives aim to promote creativity in Punjab and enable the local film industry to compete at the international level. The Punjab government is committed to using all available resources to support the welfare of the individuals associated with the film industry and to ensure its sustainable growth.
