Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has established a 29-member steering committee dedicated to revitalizing the film industry and addressing the challenges faced by artists, in a move to revive Lahore as the hub of Pakistan's film industry.
Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has been named the committee's chairperson, while senior PML-N leader Senator Pervaiz Rashid will serve as the chief minister's representative on the committee. Prominent members of the film and arts industries, the provincial secretaries of finance, tourism, and information, and Information Minister Azma Bokhari are also part of the committee.
The committee's main duties will include creating a plan for building a cutting-edge film city, a contemporary film school, a cutting-edge film laboratory, and the entire film infrastructure. Additionally, it will work towards setting up the Punjab Film Fund and preparing proposals and a comprehensive policy for the promotion of the film industry in the province.
With an emphasis on actions to promote Punjabi cinema and the arts, Maryam Nawaz has requested the committee to present a set of suggestions within 15 days.
Implementing an artist welfare system that offers social security, health insurance, and welfare benefits to artists will be one of the committee's main objectives. Another will be creating a plan for the establishment of a housing society for professionals in the field.
The group will create plans for the construction of facilities for artistic expression in addition to the physical infrastructure, as well as programs to help up-and-coming artists and promote art. Along with unique incentives for investors in the film industry, the committee will also suggest policies to expand the number of movie theaters in Punjab.
The principal secretary to the chief minister issued an official notification for the formation of the steering committee.