Rawalpindi:
Rawalpindi’s entertainment arena loses its landmarks as another historic place is deleted. Nishat Cinema, located on Liaquat Road near the historic Liaquat Bagh, has been torn after 75 years.
Built in 1950, in the golden era of Lollywood, the cinema showed primarily Punjabi films with occasional urdu screenings. At that time, a general transport terminal operated next to Liaquat Bagh, and the movie guests would often catch the last show on Nishat before traveling to cities like Lahore.
When Rawalpindi was home to 24 cinemas, no longer screening films. Fourteen cinemas have been replaced with squares and commercial centers, three converted to wedding halls, two occasionally hosting theater performances and five remaining closed for 25 years – whose owners have also applied for demolition permits to build commercial complexes.
Nishat Cinema once enjoyed the audience, including screenings of Indian films until 1952. It flourished until the 1990s, after which the decline in Pakistan’s film industry led to the closure of many theaters. Internal disputes among owners and litigation forced Nishace’s closure in 2000.
Following a solution between the parties and the end of litigation, demolition began on Friday to make way for an approved eight-story commercial Plaza. The site, considered first -class property on Liaquat Road, has long been a gathering point for passersby – and even the subject of disputes and shots.
With this demolition, Rawalpindis one-time-triggering film industry has all disappeared. Cinemas such as Naz, Shabistan, Gulistan, Songelet, Rose, Novelty, Taj Mahal, Imperial, Nigar, Tasveer Mahal, Rex, Capital and Qasim have all been converted to seats.
Kahkashan, Nadir and PAF have become wedding halls. Moti Mahal and Rialto occasionally host theater exhibitions, while Khurshid, Plaza, Odeon, Serose and Garrison have been closed for over two decades.
