Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Sunday announced the establishment of Punjab Film City spanning 50 acres in Nawaz Sharif IT City, Lahore, marking a major initiative aimed at revitalizing Pakistan’s film and creative industries through a modern, integrated production ecosystem.
According to the announcement, the Punjab Film City will be the country’s first fully “end-to-end” media production hub, bringing together film, television, animation and digital media facilities under one roof. The project is designed to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure to support the entire production chain, from filming to post-production.
The chief minister stated that advanced visual effects (VFX) and post-production facilities will be developed locally to reduce dependence on foreign services. The Film City will also feature modern studios, sound stages, purpose-built sets, and comprehensive shooting spaces, including a central lake to support diverse filming requirements.
In addition, convention halls will be constructed to host international events, film festivals and award ceremonies. The project will also include a media trade hub along with dedicated film and music schools aimed at developing skilled professionals for the industry.
CM Maryam Nawaz said the initiative would generate thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities while promoting growth in emerging sectors such as animation, gaming and digital media.
She described the project as a landmark step toward strengthening the creative economy by integrating talent, technology and business on a single platform. The project will be completed in phases, with further details expected to be announced soon.
Separately, Maryam Nawaz has expressed concern over unregulated traffic patterns and directed authorities to develop major roads across the province into model traffic corridors with strict enforcement of lane discipline and improved traffic management systems.
Chairing a special meeting on traffic reforms, on Sunday, the chief minister set a clear target for ensuring disciplined traffic flow in major cities, including Lahore, and ordered immediate steps for the implementation of traffic regulations. She stressed strict enforcement of lane and line discipline, elimination of roadside parking, and zero tolerance for violations such as one-way breaches.
The chief minister also directed that an extensive public awareness campaign be launched to educate citizens on the importance of lane discipline. She further instructed that modern monitoring systems be strengthened, with surveillance to be conducted through cameras installed on mobile traffic vans.
Taking serious notice of zigzag driving, Maryam Nawaz Sharif ordered that motorcycles involved in such violations be impounded at police stations for three days. She also assigned the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Lahore the responsibility of ensuring visible improvement in the city’s traffic system. During the briefing, it was informed that traffic police had issued over 500,000 challans and impounded more than 100,000 vehicles over the past six months as part of enforcement measures.
Reiterating the need for strict implementation of traffic laws, the chief minister emphasized that preventing underage driving on both major and minor roads was essential to ensuring road safety and long-term compliance with regulations.