BEIJING, May 19: Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, on Tuesday hailed the upcoming release of The Legend of Maula Jatt in China as a landmark moment for Pakistan-China cultural ties and cinematic collaboration.
Speaking at the premiere ceremony of the blockbuster film in Beijing, Ambassador Hashmi congratulated director and producer Bilal Lashari and manager international release, Nadeem Mandviwalla for bringing the acclaimed Pakistani film to Chinese audiences.
He also expressed gratitude to the China Film Administration, China Film Export Company and China Film Group Corporation for facilitating the nationwide theatrical release of the film in China from May 21.
The ambassador noted that the release coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, calling it a reflection of the enduring friendship between the two countries.
“This release will give Chinese audiences a unique opportunity to experience the richness of Pakistani cinema,” he said, adding that the film’s arrival in China highlights the spirit of win-win cooperation between the film industries of both countries and would pave the way for stronger cultural exchanges.
Ambassador Hashmi said Pakistan and China have significantly expanded cooperation in media and film sectors in recent years through various memoranda of understanding and agreements aimed at encouraging collaboration, joint ventures and exchanges between filmmakers.
He pointed out that the release of The Legend of Maula Jatt was made possible under the film co-production agreement signed between Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the China Film Administration.
Highlighting Pakistan’s growing entertainment industry, the envoy said the country has over 200 million telecom subscribers, more than 200 television channels and modern cinema infrastructure, making it a vibrant market for quality and diverse content.
He said Pakistani music, films and television dramas were gaining international recognition, with Pakistani artists participating in global festivals and topping international charts.
Referring to recent achievements, Ambassador Hashmi noted that Pakistani filmmakers participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Film Festival, where Pakistani films won the Jury Special Award and Best Editing Award.
Calling the Chinese release of The Legend of Maula Jatt a “significant milestone,” he expressed hope that more Pakistani films would reach Chinese audiences while Chinese films would also find greater viewership in Pakistan.
“We can and we should inject further cultural collaboration between our two countries as a means to deepen and expand our bilateral relations,” he said.
The ambassador concluded by congratulating the entire team behind the film and expressed hope that the movie would “inspire, entertain and open new horizons for Pakistan-China cinematic collaboration.”
The Legend of Maula Jatt, the blockbuster featuring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, is set to hit silver screen across China from April 21.
Talking to audience after the premiere, Bilal Lashari informed that the film has secured a place in one of the world’s most selective film quotas, becoming the first Pakistani movie ever to achieve the milestone.
Calling it a landmark achievement for Pakistani cinema, Bilal Lashari described the release as “a new door opening for our stories on the world stage.”
The film features an ensemble cast including Humaima Malick, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Gohar Rasheed, Faris Shafi, and Ali Azmat. A modern retelling of the 1979 cult classic, the movie reintroduces Punjab’s iconic hero, Maula Jatt, to a global audience.
