Maryam for establishing Punjab’s film city

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed the authorities concerned to establish Punjab’s first film city, film studio, post-production lab and Pakistan’s first film school.

She directed them to allocate space for the film city, film studio and post-production lab in ‘Nawaz Sharif IT City.”

She also reviewed the progress made so far on other measures, including the design.

Punjab chief minister also constituted an 8-member committee to provide financial assistance for the production of films, in order to revive the film industry. A notification in this regard has been issued after the formal approval of provincial cabinet. The committee will issue grants to filmmakers to promote film industry in Punjab.

Punjab’s senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb was convener of the said committee, while Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, and Minister for Human Rights & Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora weremembers of the committee. Provincial Secretary Information Tahir Raza Hamdani, Secretary Planning Asif Tufail, Secretary Finance Mujahid Sherdil and Secretary Tourism Farid Ahmed Tarar were also included in the committee.

The committee will review applications of filmmak ers and film production companies, besides reviewing production of new films and scripts of incomplete films. The committee will also decide on matters related to fund management, eligibility criteria, and box office incentives. It will be authorised to form sub-committees on any further issue. The first meeting of the committee was held under the chairmanship of Marriyum Aurangzeb, in which important decisions were taken to implement the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

“Happy Easter to all Christian brothers and sisters,” said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in her greeting message for the Christian community on Easter.

She added, “The festival of Easter is a metaphor of joy and hope.” She highlighted, “Every festival, including Easter, has a hidden message of love and brotherhood.”