9 men E-media authority after cabinet approval | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

9 men E-media authority after cabinet approval

ISLAMABAD — Federal Secretary for Information and Media Development Syed Anwar Mahmood said that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority would be formulated soon after final approval from cabinet.

Speaking at the oath taking ceremony of Pakistan Television (PTV) Executive Association, Anwar Mahmood said that the authority which will regulate and license private TV channels, will comprise nine members both ‘from private and public sector.

“Five members of the authority will be selected from private sector belonging to various fields,” he said, adding that constitution of the regulatory authority will liberalize media and increase competition for PTV.

He said that the proposed channel II of STN would be an independent channel with news and current affairs programmes. “We are moving rapidly towards opening up the media and liberalization of press.”

Referring to the PTV’s liberalization policy, he specially mentioned the current affair programmes “News Morning” and “News Night” and said that the President of Pakistan supports the policy.

He said news policy is also being liberalized and every event relating to the life of people is being reported on PTV. “We will bring qualitative change in PTV news within two or three months,” he said. PTV, he said, would need best talent and best technology to compete the rival channels.

“In technology we are lagging far behind many other channels. The outdated equipment are badly affecting the quality of production,” he said. He emphasized that PTV would have to earn money for modernization so that it could provide better entertainment, news and current affair programmes.

“We will soon go to government with a detailed proposal to modernize.” he said, adding that President General Pervez Musharraf was also taking keen interest in modernization.

The Chairman Pakistan Television Corporation said that PTV needs massive restructuring to remove the imbalances between low and high-grade employees. “In PTV, there are only 250 employees of grade 7 to 9 while the number of under 7 employees is 5,750 which shows a great imbalance,” he maintained. During previous fiscal year the profit was Rs. 190 million but this year the profit decreased to Rs: 90 million only, as the expenditure increased.

Asked about the meeting of PTV Board of Directors he said the meeting had decided to decrease the bonus for employees, as the low profit (Rs. 90 million) did not allow the authorities to offer the bonus worth Rs. 54 million.

“PTV has to pay Rs. 1 billion in term of salaries,” he said, adding that the political appointments during previous regimes had caused great financial loss to PTV. The Board has also decided to digitalize the PTV transmission within two or three months to reduce the expenses and improve the quality.

President of PTV Executive Association Asa Z. Ansari, General Secretary, Amjad Bukhari and former General Secretary, Qazi Mustafa Kamal also spoke on the occasion.

Source: The Nation
Date:12/9/2001