Punjab’s Information and Culture Minister, Azma Bokhari, has announced that the provincial government plans to revive family-friendly stage theater across the province. She shared the news in a video released by Lahore’s Alhamra Arts Council.
According to the minister, the provincial government is updating the laws governing stage performances and will host theater plays at Alhamra next month as part of Independence Day celebrations. She noted that officials have already identified problems in the current theater scene and want to bring back shows that reflect Punjabi and Pakistani culture.
The revival plan will not focus only on new faces. Bokhari said the effort will include senior, experienced actors along with younger performers, and she asked the public to support the push for better quality, family-friendly theater.
One major reason behind the reforms is outdated law. The minister pointed out that the current theater law goes back to the Dramatic Performances Act of 1876. To fix this, the Punjab government has already made changes to the law and is working on more updates, including registering artists and enforcing strict standard operating procedures for theaters.
As part of this new push, Alhamra has announced its first production under the initiative, called “Friends of ’70s.” The play is written by Saeed Anjum and directed by Waseem Abbas, and it will run nightly from August 8 to 14 at 8 pm.
This move comes months after the Lahore High Court had ordered a revival of old theater timings in the city, showing growing attention to reforming Punjab’s stage theater industry.
