Punjab has unveiled plans to establish a 50-acre Punjab Film City in Lahore, positioning it as a central pillar of the province’s expanding digital and creative infrastructure under the broader Nawaz Sharif IT City development. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who described the project as a step toward rebuilding and modernising Pakistan’s film and media industry through integrated production facilities, training systems and technology-driven workflows. The Film City will be developed within the 853-acre Nawaz Sharif IT City near PKLI, which is already structured as a multi-sector technology and urban development project.
The media complex is being designed as Pakistan’s first fully “end-to-end” production hub, covering film, television, animation and digital content creation in a single ecosystem. At its core, the facility will consolidate the entire production chain locally, reducing reliance on foreign countries for post-production services and visual effects (VFX). The infrastructure plan includes modern studios, sound stages, post-production laboratories, dedicated shooting facilities, constructed sets and a central lake for large-scale productions.
Beyond production infrastructure, the project will also include convention halls for international events and award shows, alongside a media trade hub and specialised institutions for film and music education, aimed at building a structured talent pipeline for the industry. Officials estimate the Film City initiative will generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, with spillover effects expected in animation, gaming and broader digital media sectors by integrating creative work with commercial activity. The development is part of the larger Nawaz Sharif IT City programme, which carries a total estimated cost of Rs100 billion and is projected to create around one million jobs across its multiple zones, including IT and Tech Districts, Education City, Film City, and commercial and residential sectors.
The project has already received Rs10 billion in seed funding, with phased development underway. The first phase will include the Celestia twin-tower IT building, targeted for completion within 12 months, while full infrastructure rollout is expected within three years, subject to land transfer and survey completion. Planning work is being led by Nespak in collaboration with an international consultant, while land transfer from Knowledge Park Company to CBD Punjab is expected this month, enabling construction activity to begin. The project will operate through mixed financing models, including joint ventures, self-generation and REIT-based structures, alongside a 10-year tax exemption designed to attract investment.