F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, Culture and National Heritage Attaullah Tarar informed the Information Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Thursday about clearance of Rs 1.6 billion in dues to the media industry by the government in a transparent manner, which would eventually help them to pay every media worker salary in time.
The minister disclosed the details about the dues’ clearance in the committee meeting which was presided over by Pullain Baloch and briefed about the functioning of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and its attached departments. Pointing out a halt in advertisements to certain media channels on favoritism basis in the past, Attaullah Tarar confirmed seamless distribution of the ads to the channels on merit and in accordance with the criteria.
He said there were presence of the dummy newspapers which were being printed only for the sake of ads, describing the practice a major challenge for the ministry that has been taking concrete measure to address the issue. The minister said there was a proposal in the budget 2024-25 to impose a 10 percent tax on newspaper industry, but the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting opposed the idea that could deal a big blow to the industry which ran through the imported paper.
He, during the meeting vowed, more incentives for the newspaper industry. The body was informed that the Information Ministry had been discharging its duties under the Rules of Business 1973 efficiently and its attached departments performance was satisfactory.
The minister said that the restructuring of PTV was being done through various administrative measures. Besides, editorial policy had been reviewed to ensure coverage of all the political parties. He informed that the PTV’s income had increased substantially after the launch of the PTV Sports channel. Recalling the past glory of the PTV, he said in the past, its teleplays were watched all over the world, and its past dramas were still popular today.
Tarar acknowledged that currently there was a need to improve the drama section in the PTV. The minister said that the PTV Entertainment would be brought under public-private partnership in the near future as part of the initiatives to reform and improve the PTV. He told the panel that the revenue of PTV Sports had doubled but there was a need for improvement in entertainment programs and news sections of the PTV.
The minister said a Center for Digital Communication would be established at Pak-China Friendship Centre soon to promote the country’s image and government’s initiatives. Attaullah Tarar said he was grateful to Secretary Information Shahera Shahid, who had played a great role in reforming the ministry.
He informed the panel that officers of the Ministry of Information were also posted in Pakistani embassies abroad. The body was informed that the External Publicity Wing not only dealt with foreign publications but it was also playing its role for promotion of the soft image of Pakistan abroad. The members of the committee sought a detailed report on the performance of the officers of the Ministry of Information posted abroad.
In response to a question, the Federal Information Minister said that amendments were being proposed in the Newspapers Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1973 to bring electronic media workers under the ambit of Wage Board award. He added that the privatization of Shalimar Recording Company was being seriously considered as the company was continuously incurring losses.
As regards the Center for Digital Communication, the body was informed about the importance of presenting the government’s policies and initiatives effectively. Information Secretary Shaheera Shahid underlined the importance of such a platform to curb fake news against the national security and sovereignty.
The committee was further informed that Pakistan Television (PTV), Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and Shalimar Recording and Broadcasting Company (SRBC) have appointed Ministry officers as heads under temporary arrangements. Executive Director General and Principal Information Officer (PIO) Mubasher Hasan briefed the standing committee on the working of the Press Information Department.
Mubasher Hassan said that the PID was striving to provide citizens with authentic information through print, electronic and digital media. He informed that 858 employees of the Press Information Department were working across the country with a large number of them deputed in its headquarters in Islamabad.
Mubasher Hassan said recruitment in the PID was done after a transparent test. He said the PID officers were appointed as Public Relations Officers who disseminated responsible information to the public and shared their sentiments to the government. “We convey the trends to the government which are based on facts,” Mubasher Hasan said to the query of Waqas Akram Sheikh, MNA.
The Pulse Analysis Unit prepared reports in this regard, he added. The PIO maintained that the Prime Minister paid serious attention to the public sentiments, and opinion shared in the media, especially newspapers. Mubasher Hassan said the PID has been conducting advertising campaigns for the government’s communication and development activities and no political angle was involved in this, rather it was purely based on public interest.
In the last five years, the government of Pakistan had released public notices and advertisements worth Rs 10 billion. He said he would present the details of the expenses of the PID of the last three months in the next meeting. Advertising campaigns were monitored through a software to ensure transparency, he added.
The Standing Committee sought a detailed briefing on the performance of PTV so that proposals and suggestions could be discussed to make the national TV financially self-reliant. The committee also decided to hold a special briefing on the advertisement policy of the government to ascertain criteria for public sector advertisement in electronic and print media. The Standing Committee offered Fateha for the soul of the father of PIO Mubasher Hasan who passed away last week. The chairman of the Standing Committee and its members expressed their heartfelt condolences with the PIO.
