Firdaus for promoting PEMRA complaints council
* Minister says government believes in freedom of expression
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to launch a campaign in journalist community, traders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for promotion of Council of Complaints (CoC) to address complaints regarding electronic media.
The minister, on Monday, held a meeting of PEMRA officials at its regional headquarters. She listened to problems facing the PEMRA office while the officials also briefed her regarding the performance of the authority.
Addressing the meeting, she said that her government had a strong believe in freedom of expression and free media and there was no plan of the government to impose any kind of restriction on it but in the larger interest of the general public, proper monitoring of the TV channels was a necessity of the time.
She said that PEMRA would get more powerful and strengthen through an effective role of the CoC. The federal minister also urged the council headed by Dr Mehdi Hassan to play effective role in addressing the complaints related to the electronic media.
The issue of cable operators and their complaints were also discussed in the meeting and Firdaus directed the authority that it should conduct training workshops for operators as most of the cable operators were illiterate and untrained so the workshops would be beneficial for them. She also urged cable operators to play their due role to enhance national unity and harmony.
She said CoC was a pilot project and it would be introduced in other regions if it proved successful in Lahore region. She directed the authority officials for holding more frequent meetings of the CoC rather than following scheduled monthly meetings.
She said that the true purpose of PEMRA would only be fulfilled once the body enhanced its role of effective monitoring, adding the aim could be achieved through public-private partnership.
Source: Daily Times
Date:11/1/2011
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