The Punjab Assembly (PA) on Wednesday passed the Punjab Film City Authority Bill 2026 by a majority vote after a heated debate marked by sharp exchanges, procedural objections and strong opposition criticism.

The bill, moved by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, seeks to revive the province’s film and creative industry through the establishment of a modern film city equipped with production facilities, training institutes and supporting infrastructure.

Opening the debate, Aurangzeb described the initiative as a long-term policy aimed at rebuilding what she termed a “collapsed” film sector.

She said Pakistan had failed to develop its film production capacity and screen tourism potential over the years, resulting in lost economic opportunities and a weakened global cultural presence.

She told the House that the proposed authority would oversee the development of a state-of-the-art film city featuring film schools, music academies, studios and allied facilities to generate employment and boost revenue.

The minister maintained that the bill had undergone scrutiny at the standing committee level and was the result of extensive planning over the past one and a half years. She rejected opposition claims regarding misplaced priorities, arguing that the government had significantly increased spending on key sectors including education, health and agriculture.

However, opposition members strongly criticised the move, questioning both the timing and necessity of the project. Lawmakers including Mian Ejaz Shafi argued that with millions of children still out of school and public services under strain, allocating resources to a film city was unjustified.