Punjab Assembly passes film city, environment, wildlife bills amid uproar

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday passed the Punjab Film City Authority Bill 2026 by a majority vote after a charged session marked by sharp exchanges between treasury and opposition members, with critics questioning the government’s priorities and the ruling side defending the move as a step toward economic growth and cultural revival. The bill was presented in the house by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who argued that the initiative would revive Pakistan’s struggling film industry, create jobs, and boost tourism. However, opposition lawmakers strongly opposed the legislation, claiming that funds were being diverted from critical sectors like health and education. Opposition member Ijaz Shafi criticised the government for what he termed “misplaced priorities, ” alleging that education and health budgets were being cut to finance the film city project. He also mocked the urgency with which the government was introducing bills, questioning whether it signalled political instability. His remarks turned controversial when he made personal comments about political leaders, prompting Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan to order those statements expunged from the official record. The speaker maintained that personal attacks were inappropriate and urged members to focus on the substance of the bill. Marriyum rebuffs opposition’s claim of diverting health, education funds to film city plan Responding forcefully, Marriyum rejected the opposition’s claims as “baseless and misleading, ” asserting that the education budget had increased from Rs30 billion to Rs130bn, while the health development budget had risen significantly to around Rs100bn. She said the government had delivered record funding across sectors, including agriculture, where farmer support programmes such as Kisan Cards and tractor schemes had been expanded. “This is not just about films; it is about an entire economic ecosystem, ” she told the house. “Globally, screen production is a billion-dollar industry. Pakistan has lagged behind due to lack of infrastructure. This bill will change that. ” She argued that the initiative would also improve Pakistan’s global image and strengthen “screen tourism, ” a sector she said had remained underdeveloped. Opposition members, including Waqas Mann and Shoaib Amir, raised broader concerns, questioning governance priorities and demanding accountability on public spending. They argued that with millions of children out of school and infrastructure challenges persisting, the government should focus on essential services rather than entertainment projects. Some lawmakers also complained about the limited time given to review the bill and called for greater consultation with stakeholders, particularly artistes and industry professionals. Repeated interruptions, slogan chanting, and points of order disrupted proceedings, forcing the speaker to intervene multiple times to restore order. At one point, the opposition pointed out a lack of quorum, while treasury members responded with counter slogans. Despite the protests, the government pushed the legislation through, with Marriyum Aurangzeb emphasising that the bill had already been vetted by the relevant standing committee and included regulatory mechanisms for the industry. In addition to the Film City bill, the assembly also passed the Punjab Environmental Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Punjab Wildlife Protection Bill 2026, both presented by Marriyum Aurangzeb, reflecting the government’s broader legislative agenda. The session was later adjourned until Thursday (today) afternoon. Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026

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