The cinema business has perhaps been the worst-hit business due to the pandemic. On 19th December, it made a comeback with a drive-in cinema opening in Islamabad.
COVID-19 has made it impossible for cinemas to operate since the first lockdown was implemented. With almost all cinemas closed across Pakistan, people were starved of this major outlet of entertainment.
Hence, after almost nine months, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) inaugurated a drive-in, open-air cinema in Islamabad’s Parade Ground.
The organizers kicked things off with Spider-Man Far From Home on Day 1, while Jumanji: The Next Level was shown on Day 2. Moreover, the schedule is kept simple, with only three shows for a day between 5 PM and 12:30 AM.
The prices were kept at Rs. 1,000/ ticket, which applied to one car. However, only two persons can benefit from this ticket, as the front two seats provide the best view of the screen. As a result, some people got out of their vehicles to get a better view of the screen.
Moreover, since Jazz was one of the sponsors for the cinema, there was a 50% discount on tickets and snacks if you paid using the JazzCash App. Outside snacks were also allowed, which is not usually the case in cinemas. So, kudos to the management for that!
The cinema saw mostly families making their way to consume some entertainment; however, some groups of friends were seen at the venue as well.
Furthermore, the authorities have said that if the response is as good as it was on the weekend, they will consider putting up shows on weekdays.
All in all, this is a fun (and safe) way for the cinematic experience to return and might also be fruitful for the movie distributors. For all the latest updates on cinemas and entertainment centers, you know who to follow.
So, what do you think of this drive-in cinema in Islamabad? Would you like one to open in your city? Let us know in the comments below!
