Imax Corp. and the Pakistaniprovince of Punjab have signed a deal that will see the first-ever Imax cinemain the country. The new facility, which will be capable of presenting 3D filmsas well, will be located in Lahore as the anchor tenant of a leisure centre thePunjab Government is developing. The actual screen will be one of Imax'sbiggest, 71 feet high by 95 feet across.

In a joint statement Imaxco-chairmen and co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechlser said thedeal testified to the format's ability to transcend culture and language andaudience's willingness to pay a premium for the experience.

Taimur Azmat Osman,secretary of information and culture and youth affairs for the Government ofthe Punjab said the cinema would entice both locals and tourists to visit theleisure centre as well as drive traffic to surrounding attractions.