Rawalpindi:
Rawalpindi’s entertainment arena loses its bearings, because another historic place is deleted. The Nishat cinema, located on Liaquat Road near the history of Liaquat Bagh, was demolished after 75 years.
Built in 1950, in the golden era of Lollywood, the cinema mainly presented Punjabi films, with occasional projections in Ourdou. At that time, a general transport terminal operated next to Liaquat Bagh, and the moviegoers often took the last show in Nishat before leaving for cities like Lahore.
Once sheltering 24 cinemas, Rawalpindi no longer projects films. Fourteen cinemas have been replaced by places and shopping centers, three converted into wedding rooms, two occasionally theater shows and remaining five for 25 years – whose owners have also requested demolition permits to build commercial complexes.
Nishat Cinema has already appreciated the packaged public, including the projections of Indian films until 1952. He prospered until the 1990s, after which the decline of the Pakistani film industry led to the closure of many theaters. The internal disputes between the owners and the judicial affairs forced the closure of Nishat in 2000.
Following a settlement between the parties and the end of the dispute, the demolition began on Friday to make room for an approved eight -story commercial place. The site, considered a main property on Liaquat Road, has long been a focal point for passers -by – and even the subject of disputes and shots.
With this demolition, Rawalpindi’s formerly prosperous film industry has practically disappeared. Cinemas such as Naz, Shabistan, Gulistan, Sangeet, Rose, Novelty, Taj Mahal, Imperial, Nigar, Tasveer Mahal, Rex, Capital and Qasim have all been converted into places.
Kahkashan, Nadir and PAF have become wedding rooms. Motio Mahal and Rialto sometimes organize theater shows while Khurshid, Plaza, Odeon, Serose and Garrison have been closed for more than two decades.
