Minister admits to PTV deal with Indian TV
Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Wednesday told the Senate that the state-owned Pakistan Television had signed an agreement with Indian owned ‘Zee TV’ which she said was background channel of Ten Sports.
Responding to an adjournment motion moved by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Senator Professor Khurshid Ahmed, the minister however termed content of news stories which appeared in newspapers of a media group in this regard as fabricated.
Prof Khurshid in his adjournment motion expressed serious concerns over news reports of agreement signed between Pakistan Television and Zee Television, saying it could be harmful for country’s cultural values.
The government must ensure that the doors of Zee Television should not open to us, he added. Firdous clarified that the agreement signed between PTV and Zee TV was aimed at only promoting and broadcasting sports events on the state-run channel and not to promote any of the Indian content.
She said the state-run TV channel won the agreement through international bidding and the other private channel which was a party in the bidding launched a mala fide campaign against PTV after failing to secure the bidding.
The minister said the media group which published news story of agreement, itself was showing Indian programmes on its channel and had also launched ‘Aman Ki Asha’ campaign. About the foreign contents being promoted on the private channels, the minister said that certain electronic channels were involved in promoting the Indian content and strict action including 652 applications and show-cause notices had been issued against those channels. Senator Tariq Azeem Khan said the government should strictly monitor those television channels which were exceeding limits while telecasting foreign contents.
Source: The News
Date:11/3/2011
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