Moral Atmospheres Islam and Media in a Pakistani Marketplace

1916 - Publication of 'Castes of Punjab'

Denzil Ibbetson publishes 'Castes of Punjab', introducing Mirasis as a distinct caste.

1917 - Formation of the Cinema Commission

The National Council of Public Morals in Britain forms the 'Cinema Commission' to study the potential effects of cinema on British audiences.

Early 1920s Events

Iran closes cinemas during the month of Muharram. Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi publishes 'Islamic Rulings on New Tools'.

1924 - First Film Made in Lahore

The first film made in Lahore, 'Daughters of Today', is released.

1927 - Indian Cinematograph Committee Report

The Indian Cinematograph Committee publishes a comprehensive report on the effects of cinema in the Indian subcontinent.

1929 - Execution of Ilm-ud-din

Ilm-ud-din is executed for the murder of a Hindu publisher in Lahore, an event later depicted in films and public discussions.

1930 - Publication of Iqbal's Book

Muhammad Iqbal publishes 'The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam', exploring the relationship between ideals and reality, as well as materialism and cinema.

1933 - Opening of Regal Cinema

The first air-conditioned cinema in the subcontinent, 'Regal', opens in Bombay.

1940s - Maududi Watches Film

Syed Abul A'la Maududi watches a film in Delhi.

1947 - Partition and Establishment of Pakistan

The partition of the Indian subcontinent leads to the establishment of Pakistan. Hall Road in Lahore becomes known as a commercial area with radio shops and electronic parts importers.

1949 - Cinematograph Amendment Bill

The Indian Constituent Assembly debates the Cinematograph Amendment Bill for classifying films for adults.

1950s - National Film Library Established

The Government of Pakistan establishes the 'National Film and Tape Lending Library' in Karachi. Radio Pakistan halts music broadcasts during the first ten days of Muharram.

1951 - First 'Majlis-e-Sham-e-Ghariban' Broadcast

Rashid Turabi delivers his first 'Majlis-e-Sham-e-Ghariban' speech on Radio Pakistan.

1952 - First Air-Conditioned Cinema in Pakistan

The 'Golestan' cinema, Pakistan's first air-conditioned cinema, is built in Dhaka (then East Pakistan). The Indian film 'Jaal' leads to the 'Jaal riots' and a film trade agreement with India.

1958 - Ayub Khan's Coup

General Ayub Khan stages a coup in Pakistan.

1960

1961: A government report on the state of Pakistan's national film industry cites cinema air conditioning as a major concern.

1963

The Film Censorship Act is passed, later replaced by the '1979 Motion Picture Ordinance'.

1965

The Indo-Pakistani War leads to a ban on the import of Indian films into Pakistan.

1970s

The growth in consumer electronics sales leads to a boom in audio and video cassette shops on Hall Road.

1971

The Bangladesh Liberation War leads to the separation of East Pakistan.

1973

Rashid Turabi, a famous preacher, passes away. Anarkali's tomb is officially designated as the Federal Government Archive of Pakistan.

1974

The Punjabi film "Khatarnak" faces police cases after controversies over deleted and reinserted scenes.

1977

General Zia-ul-Haq stages a coup in Pakistan. Jamil Dehlavi films "Blood of Hussain."

1978

Rafi Group is founded and begins constructing commercial plazas. The Bangladesh Film Archive is established.

1979

The Islamic Revolution in Iran occurs. The Motion Picture Ordinance of 1979 replaces the 1963 Film Censorship Law. Films "Maula Jatt" and "Dubai Chalo" are released. General Zia-ul-Haq announces the "Islamic System" and orders cinema closures.

1980

The government of Pakistan begins controlling zakat by directly deducting from citizens' bank accounts.

1980s

Hall Road becomes a major hub for informal film production due to the availability of production and distribution materials. Rafi and Zaitoon Plazas are built to support the home entertainment industry. Shalimar Recording Company (SRC) widely distributes cassettes.

1981

A case is brought to court against the producers of the film "Maula Jatt" due to deleted scenes.

1983 (February 12)

The Women's Action Forum (WAF) protests against Zia-ul-Haq's Hudood Ordinances at the entrance of Hall Road.

1984

Durrani Electronics is established.

1988 (June)

A Sharia decree is passed requiring television organizations to reduce the number of advertisements featuring women and urging cinema producers to remove film billboards with images of women from public places.

1990s (Decade)

The guidebook 'Film Acting Training' is published by S.M. Shahid.

1992 (December)

The demolition of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, India, leads to damage or destruction of Hindu temples in Lahore.

1996

Mubarak Hussain begins work at the Punjab Archives.

2000s (Early)

Pervez Musharraf lifts the ban on importing Indian films. Militant attacks on cinemas in Peshawar are initiated by the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). Shalimar Recording Company (SRC) declines, and original master copies are sold to scrap dealers.

2006 - MMA Crackdown

The MMA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cracks down on electronic ownership and burns "unauthorized" CDs and video cassettes.

2007 - Attacks on CD Stores

Militant groups carry out attacks on CD and video stores in Islamabad.

2008 - Burning of Discs

Hall Road's Anjuman-e-Tajiran burns sixty thousand discs containing "obscene" content in response to a bomb threat.

2010 - Decentralization of Censorship

Following the 18th Amendment to Pakistan's Constitution, censorship activities are decentralized and divided among provincial boards.

2012 - Day of Love for the Prophet

The "Day of Love for the Prophet" leads to riots and the destruction of dozens of cinemas nationwide, in reaction to the "Innocence of Muslims" video.

2013

The last in-house celluloid film processing lab at Evernew Studios closes.

Early 2013

Field research begins in Pakistan.

2013

National elections in Pakistan lead to the first peaceful transfer of power.

February 2014

Grenade and bomb attacks on 'Shama' and 'Picture House' cinemas in Peshawar kill dozens.

2015

A dispute over converting an Islamic cultural center into a cinema in Karachi goes to court.

2016

YouTube launches a local version for Pakistan, lifting the previous ban. Metropole Cinema in Lahore begins screening classic Lollywood films again.

2017

Saudi Arabia lifts a 35-year ban on cinemas. Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protests begin in Lahore.

2017

2020: Extensive field research in Lahore, focusing on Hall Road.

2017

2018 (Winter): The Orange Line Metro Train project is halted due to legal challenges and then resumed.

2018

National elections in Pakistan bring Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party to power. The Indian film "Padman" is banned in Pakistan.

November 2018

Karachi's Empress Market, located at Rainbow Center, is demolished in a government anti-encroachment operation.

2020

Pakistan Talkies Cinema ceases its operations.