Meeting on the Revival of Cinemas

 

The first point discussed at the meeting was the ease of obtaining NOC for building cinemas in Punjab. It was suggested that instead of 9-10 separate departments issuing separate NOC’s, one department should be authorized to issue a single NOC for cinema building. The one window facility should cover all factors regarding cinema building such as structural feasibility, disaster management and environmental impact and the NOC issued should be valid for at least a period of five years.

 

The second point of discussion regarded appointing specified areas for a cinema in the commercial areas of housing societies. It was suggested that 4 canals of commercial land should be appropriated for a cinema in housing societies ranging from 50-100 acres and 8 canals of land should be appropriated in housing societies of 100 acres and above.

 

Another point of discussion focused on suggestions for encouraging development of cinemas throughout the province; especially outside the major urban areas of Punjab. It was suggested that the board of revenue should allocate periphery land in all cities of Punjab that can be leased for cinema building on subsidized rates for a period of fifty years on open competitive bases. 

 

Finally, recommendations were made for supporting filmmakers in Punjab. There were various suggestions such as Bank of Punjab should have designated branches for providing financial assistance to filmmakers, encouraging co-productions with foreign countries like India and Turkey, providing additional security for film crews etc.  All the participants agreed that a film city should be established on the outskirts of Lahore to provide all forms of support suggested for filmmakers and act as a regulatory body for the film industry as well.