A cinematic dawn for Punjab

PUNJAB is stepping into a dazzling new era of cultural transformation with the proposed Punjab Film City, an ambitious mega-project designed to redefine the province as a global hub of film, television and digital media production. Envisioned as Pakistan’s first fully integrated “end-to-end” media ecosystem, the project aims to unite every stage of filmmaking-writing, shooting, editing, visual effects and distribution-within one seamless, world-class environment. The initiative gained strong momentum during a high-profile meeting between Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, where discussions focused on reshaping Punjab’s creative landscape and elevating it to international standards. The collaboration reflects a powerful blend of governance and artistic expertise, setting the foundation for what officials describe as a historic revival of Pakistan’s struggling film industry. At the heart of the vision lies a state-of-the-art production city designed to rival leading global media hubs. The Punjab Film City will feature advanced film studios, acoustically engineered sound stages, high-tech post-production laboratories and expansive constructed sets capable of simulating diverse international environments. A central artificial lake is also part of the design, intended to support large-scale cinematic sequences and add visual grandeur to productions. Beyond infrastructure, the project is being developed as a complete cultural ecosystem. It will include a convention hall for festivals and industry events, a media trade hub for collaboration and investment, a film school to train future filmmakers and a music academy to nurture artistic talent. This integrated structure is designed not only to produce content but also to cultivate a sustainable creative workforce for the future. Spanning 50 acres in Lahore, the Film City forms part of the larger Nawaz Sharif IT City, an 853-acre development focused on technology, education