Reimagining Pakistani Cinema, The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation in Shaping the Industry’s Future

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is rapidly re-tooling Pakistani cinema, from script generation to multilingual dubbing, yet its cultural fit remains contested. Using a mixed-methods design 30 semi-structured interviews with filmmakers, surveys of 500 viewers, and three production case studies this study maps AI’s penetration across pre-production, production, and post-production workflows, with particular attention to OTT distribution. Grounded in Technological Determinism and Diffusion of Innovation, the analysis reveals a double-edged future: AI lowers barriers, enabling a Lahore director to release a Mandarin-dubbed cut overnight and an editor to halve post-production time, but it also threatens editors, voice actors, and cultural nuance. Older audiences question the “junoon” of machine-mediated stories, while Gen Z embraces the sheen. Ethical concerns deepfake resurrections, algorithmic bias toward Western tropes underscore the need for culturally trained models, consent protocols, and workforce upskilling. Ultimately, Pakistan’s cinematic growth hinges on blending technological efficiency with the irreplaceable instincts of human storytellers within a rapidly globalizing media landscape.