Top Dhallywood star Shakib Khan has drawn sharp criticism and sparked social media debate following factual inaccuracies in his recent remarks about Pakistan’s film industry. Speaking at a recent award ceremony where he expressed keen interest in cross-border joint productions and new projects with Pakistani actresses, Shakib claimed that Pakistan currently boasts over 1,200 cinema halls—mostly multiplexes—and that individual films routinely earn between 200 to 300 crore rupees.

However, public records and media reports directly contradict his assertions. According to a report by Pakistani daily Dawn in April 2024, the country had approximately 60 cinemas with around 150 screens. A subsequent report by The Express Tribune in March 2025 noted that roughly 40% of Pakistani cinemas have shut down since 2018 due to box office slumps, leaving only about 115 active screens total (not standalone halls).