ISLAMABAD (MNN); The federal government has approved an allocation of Rs1 billion for the production of a high-budget historical drama series, inspired by the narrative style of the popular Turkish series Ertugrul, focusing on the lives of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and poet-philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
The decision was revealed on Wednesday during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Heritage and Culture, chaired by Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar. Officials informed the committee that the project was approved on the prime minister’s instructions to produce quality historical content highlighting the vision, struggle and ideology of national leaders for younger generations.
Briefing the meeting, the secretary of national heritage said the series aims to present Pakistan’s founding figures in a modern, engaging format comparable to internationally successful historical dramas. The director of the Iqbal Academy told the committee that interviews with Allama Iqbal’s grandsons have already begun and are expected to conclude by the end of February. The committee also decided to arrange a formal meeting with members of Iqbal’s family as part of the documentation process.
Members were informed that the series would follow the storytelling approach of Ertugrul, which gained immense popularity in Pakistan and played a significant role in introducing Islamic history to younger audiences.
During the meeting, officials also reviewed other cultural and heritage initiatives. It was shared that provincial governments in Sindh, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are working on heritage preservation projects, while a World Sculpture Exhibition is scheduled for February 6.
The committee directed that students should be facilitated through regular educational visits to the Pakistan National Council of the Arts to strengthen their cultural awareness. Progress on the construction of a new national museum near Shakarparian was also discussed. Officials said land had been acquired, but the project was delayed after funds were withdrawn, leaving only Rs190 million available. The committee decided to write to the prime minister seeking restoration of funds.
The standing committee also approved the Lok Virsa Amendment Bill 2025 and reviewed restoration work at a gurdwara in Daska, expressing concern over financial and access-related challenges faced by heritage institutions.
