Islamabad, July 13, 2023 (PPI-OT): The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to improve the performance of its attached departments with tireless work in less than 14 months which has also led to economic revival. 38th meeting of the Standing Committee was held today at 2:00 p.m. in Committee Room No. 7, Parliament House, Islamabad under the Chairpersonship of Ms. Javaria Zafar Aheer, MNA. The Committee was apprised by the Hon. Minister for Information and Broadcasting that the services of all the employees of the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC) have been regularized. She informed that the Film Division has been established in PTV, Islamabad and the Ministry also established PTV Virtual Studio.

She desired that the Committee must visit the PTV Virtual Studio. She also informed that PTV Academy has been upgraded and the courses are being commenced from 25th of July. She further informed the Committee that health insurance amounting Rs.1bn has been started for working Journalists and similarly health insurance has also been started for the Artists. She said that 12 studios have been started in Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and all archives of Radio have been digitized. Regarding the issues of non-payment of salaries, allowances and pensions to the employees of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), the Secretary Ministry informed that the pensioners of PBC were facing problems and the Government has issued a sufficient budget grant in the current budget, which fulfilled their financial requirements.

Further, all arrears have been paid to the employees and pensioners of PBC. During the course of discussion, the Hon. Chairperson, Ms. Javaria Zafar Aheer, MNA, said that ethics is very important element in journalism and any news regarding incidents should be reported accurately. Further, it is a good development that amendments are being made in the PEMRA Act, 2002 which will further empower PEMRA, she added. The Deputy Inspector General of Police, ICT, Islamabad told the Committee that Islamabad Police is giving priority to journalists in all cases and many cases have been referred to CIA. The DIG also said that a WhatsApp group has been created for all Islamabad-based Journalists in which they will share their issues and problems, which will be resolved immediately. Later, the Committee considered the Government Bills i.e.

“The Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals (Amendment) Bill, 2023”, “The Press, Newspapers, news Agencies and Books Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2023” and passed the same with slight amendments. The Committee deferred other legislative business and decided to consider the same in the next meeting. Besides the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ms. Marriyum Aurganzeb, the meeting was attended by Ms. Zaib Jaffar, Ms. Kiran Imran Dar, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Behan, Ms. Naz Baloch, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Mr. Nasir Khan Musa Zai and Ms. Asiya Azeem, Hon. MNAs. Moulana Abdul Akber Chitrali and Mr. Muhammad Jamal-ud-Din, MNAs/Movers also attended the meeting. The senior officers from M/o Information and Broadcasting, M/o Interior, representative from ICP Police, FIA, PEMRA, PBC, PID were also present in the meeting.

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