Islamabad: A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, chaired by Senator Sarmad Ali, took place in Islamabad today to review media policy, digital advertising, and the performance of key media institutions. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar highlighted the progress and challenges facing the media sector in Pakistan.

According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting addressed various aspects of media policy and institutional reforms, with a focus on the performance of Radio Pakistan, Pakistan Television (PTV), and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). Attaullah Tarar informed the committee that digital media in Pakistan has evolved into a self-sustaining platform, negating the need for government financial support. However, he emphasized that digital media growth should not come at the expense of traditional print and electronic media.

The meeting also delved into the Advertisement Policy 2024, which aims to enhance digital inclusion for newspapers through tools like Google Analytics and web metrics. The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to the welfare of media employees, announcing an SOP with the Pakistan Broadcasters Association to address salary issues once government advertising dues are cleared.

Attaullah Tarar also announced the formation of a PID sub-committee to address challenges faced by regional newspapers. Institutional reforms were discussed, including the merger of the Audit Bureau of Circulation and the Registrar Office to modernize the circulation audit system.

Additional discussions covered revenue generation through outsourcing buildings of PTV and Radio Pakistan, as well as pension-related issues for retired employees of Radio Pakistan and APP. The Information Minister noted that PTV has achieved financial stability and remains the sole broadcaster of the FIFA World Cup in Pakistan. He assured that the PTV Board is fully empowered, with salaries and pensions paid on time over the past year, and production activities set to resume.

Senator Sarmad Ali underscored the enduring significance of print media and advocated for measures to strengthen the sector, along with improvements to the national media list.