Minister sets target of 25 TV channels and 100 radio stations in one year | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Minister sets target of 25 TV channels and 100 radio stations in one year

ISLAMABAD- Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on August 18, 2003 that target of 25 television channels and 100 radio stations would be achieved within a year in the country.

Addressing PTV General Managers Conference here he said four channels of PTV and seven in private sector are presently functioning in the country.

Some new channels are also being allowed to start working, thus the number of television channels would reach to 25 within a year, he added. Similarly, the Minister said, new radio stations are being opened in private and public sector and there would be 100 radio stations in the country within a year.

Sheikh Rashid asked Pakistan television to prepare itself to meet this new challenge. Only those television channels, which have better performance, would survive in future.

He said PTV has best talent and infrastructure to face the challenge of private channels. The Minister said there is a big margin to improve news and current affairs programmes and directed to separate the news and current affairs.

He said PTV News, Sports and Home channel will be started in a bid to provide latest information to the viewers.

Appreciating the performance of PTV National, he said the viewers have appreciated this new channel which has recently been launched to telecast regional language programmes. He said the computer graphics should be used to make these programmes further colourful.

The Minister acknowledged the good coverage by PTV during President General Pervez Musharraf’s visit to the US and Europe. PTV has played a good role during Madar-e-Millat Year celebrations for which the workers and management should be congratulated, he added.

He said the drama festival organised by PTV has given a new life to the private sector. The Minister expressed the need to start a channel for children to educate them.

He congratulated Chairman PTV, Syed Anwar Mahmood, and Managing Director PTV, Akhtar Waqar Azeem for earning a profit of Rs 70 million.

Secretary Information and Chairman, PTV, Syed Anwar Mahmood speaking on the occasion said PTV programmes could be further improved and expressed the need to introduce new talent in this regard.

About performance of the organisation, he said it could further be improved by curtailing unnecessary expenditures.

Anwar Mahmood directed to keep viewers interest supreme while preparing new programmes.

Appreciating the overall performance of PTV, he said it has played a pivotal role on several important occasions.

In his inaugural address, Managing Director PTV, Akhtar Waqar Azeem said PTV transmission would soon be watched in most of the countries.

He informed that special measures are being taken to improve the standard of news and current affairs department.

PTV, he added, has earned Rs 70 million profit during this year.

The MD said all arrangements have been finalised to start transmission of AJK television from February 5, next year.

He said that programmes of PTV National are being appreciated across the country and abroad adding, like drama festival, there will be competition of other programmes for the viewers, Akhtar Waqar informed that PTV in collaboration with Iranian television would prepare a special documentary on Poet Allama Iqbal.

PTV, he said, has a capability to meet the new future challenges.

Source: Business Recorder
Date:8/19/2003