PA passes Punjab Film City 2026 bill amid heated debate and opposition uproar

The Punjab Film Authority Bill 2026, aimed at reviving the province’s film and creative industry, triggered a very intense debate in the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday, marked by intense exchanges, political points and procedural objections, before being passed by a majority vote.

Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb introduced the bill in the House, presenting it as a long-term policy initiative to rebuild what she called a “collapsed” film industry. He told lawmakers that Pakistan had failed to develop its film tourism and film production capacity for decades, negatively affecting the country’s global image and depriving artists of opportunities.

He said the proposed authority would establish a modern film city spread over a significant land, with film schools, music academies, production houses and supporting infrastructure to create jobs and generate income.

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Aurangzeb emphasized that the bill had already gone through the standing committee process and was backed by detailed planning over the past year and a half under provincial leadership.

He rejected opposition claims about misplaced priorities, saying the government had substantially increased spending in key sectors.

According to her, the budget for education had increased from Rs 30 billion to Rs 130 billion, the budget for health development had multiplied and agricultural initiatives such as farmer cards and the distribution of thousands of tractors reflected strong support for the rural economy.

He accused the opposition of “misleading the House” and presenting incorrect figures.

The opposition, however, launched strong criticism led by Mian Ejaz Shafi and other lawmakers, who questioned both the intent and urgency of the bill.

They argued that at a time when an estimated 25 million children were out of school and public services were facing serious strains, allocating resources to a film city project was not justified.

Opposition members alleged funds were being diverted from the education and health sectors and described the move as a misplacement of priorities.

Several opposition lawmakers also criticized the legislative process, saying the bill was introduced and pushed for approval without enough time for scrutiny. Some members noted that the draft had only recently been shared, limiting meaningful debate.

They demanded wider consultation, particularly with stakeholders in the film and arts community, many of whom, they claimed, were unaware of the details of the bill.

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The session saw repeated interruptions as political rhetoric intensified.

Opposition members made sarcastic and personal comments aimed at the political leadership, including comments about senior figures’ interest in music and film, which sparked strong reactions from the treasury benches.

PA President Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan intervened several times, ordering such comments to be removed from the official record and urging members to limit their speeches to the bill.

Treasury members, including Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and others, defended the government’s position, arguing that personal attacks were inappropriate and that the opposition should engage constructively in policy.

Government policymakers maintained that reviving the film industry would not only preserve cultural heritage but also stimulate economic activity, create employment for artists and technicians and promote Pakistan internationally.

The speaker repeatedly attempted to restore order, warning members that the assembly was not a political arena but a legislative forum.

He stressed the need to systematically proceed with the bill’s clauses and warned that continued disarray could delay proceedings.

Other opposition figures, including Waqas Maan and retired Brigadier Mushtaq Ahmad, raised broader concerns about governance during the debate.

They questioned the government’s spending priorities, transparency in public spending and the role of bureaucracy in implementing such large-scale projects. Some also linked the discussion to broader political narratives, claiming that successive governments had contributed to the decline of the film industry.

Despite the chaos and strike atmosphere during parts of the session, the government pressed ahead with the legislative process. In his concluding remarks, Aurangzeb reiterated that the initiative was designed to revive a “dead industry”, provide institutional support to artists and create a sustainable creative economy.