Who gets paid when the credits roll

The remark highlighted a longstanding concern within Pakistan's entertainment industry: productions can continue generating commercial value through reruns, international distribution and new releases, while the people responsible for creating them may receive no additional payment beyond original compensation.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the formulation of the proposed royalty law and directed that it be presented at the next meeting of the Punjab Film Authority. The legislation, if enacted, would seek to address the absence of continuing payments to creative professionals, although its precise provisions and implementation mechanism have yet to be announced.

Pakistan previously had a royalty system for television actors, but the practice was largely abandoned during the 1990s when prominent performers agreed to relinquish residual rights in exchange for higher upfront payments from state-run Pakistan Television. Private broadcasters subsequently continued operating without a comparable system of regular payments to artists when productions were reused.

The consequences have repeatedly surfaced in public debate. Actor Mahira Khan raised the issue during promotional activities for her film 'Aag Lagay Basti Mein', pointing to the financial insecurity faced by junior performers and technical staff.

She argued that established stars were better placed to manage without royalties than workers with fewer opportunities and resources. Naila Jaffery had also brought attention to the issue in 2021 while battling cancer, speaking publicly about her financial difficulties and the potential value of regular royalty income in meeting medical expenses.

Her appeal became a particularly poignant illustration of the vulnerability of performers whose work may remain in circulation long after their original contracts have ended. Alongside the proposed legal framework, the Punjab government has approved financial incentives intended to encourage local productions and attract investment.

Punjabi-language feature films produced in the province will be eligible for a 35% rebate, while Urdu-language feature films made in Punjab will qualify for a 20% rebate under the announced policy. The incentives are intended to lower production costs and encourage filmmakers to work in the province.

Their eventual impact, however, will depend on the eligibility criteria, application procedures and timely disbursement of payments, details of which were not provided in the government announcement. The wider strategy centres on Lahore Film City, a proposed complex intended to bring production, training and related creative activities under one roof.

The government has set December 15, 2026, as the target date for its launch, describing the project as a major step towards restoring Lahore's position as a centre of filmmaking.

The planned complex will include a studio facility, modern sound stages, post-production facilities, a film and music school, a museum, a film trading house and a convention centre described by the provincial government as Pakistan's largest. The project is intended to support filmmakers throughout production, from technical preparation and shooting to editing and other post-production work.

Administrative measures are also planned to make filming easier. The government intends to introduce an online, single-window facility through which filmmakers can identify suitable shooting locations and obtain the necessary permissions. The initiative is designed to reduce procedural obstacles and make production arrangements more accessible.

The first meeting of the Punjab Film Authority, chaired by Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, also approved measures to restore older cinemas, install solar power systems and introduce online cinema booking. The stated aim is to improve exhibition infrastructure while making entertainment more accessible to the public.

Training is another component of the plan, with international experts expected to help young filmmakers and technicians develop skills in modern filmmaking techniques. The government hopes such programmes will address technical shortcomings and improve the quality of local productions, although their effectiveness will depend on the training offered and opportunities available to participants afterwards.

Aurangzeb said the chief minister wanted Punjab to become a global-standard screen tourism destination within five years. Describing Film City as a complete ecosystem, she said the project would help revive the film industry, attract investment, create employment and provide quality, affordable entertainment.

The plans nevertheless face a central test: whether the proposed infrastructure and financial incentives can translate into sustained production, stronger cinema attendance and better working conditions for creative professionals. Film City may provide facilities and rebates may reduce costs, but neither alone guarantees commercially successful productions or secure livelihoods.

The proposed royalty law therefore carries significance beyond the construction of studios and the revival of cinemas. If its eventual provisions establish enforceable rights and transparent payment arrangements, it could address a longstanding weakness in the industry's treatment of creative work.

For now, the legislation remains a proposal, and its practical protections will depend on what the government ultimately enacts.