After a brainstorming session on Wednesday, the Senate Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Wednesday set the agenda for the meeting. The meeting was held with its newly elected Chairman Senator Faisal Javed Khan, in which the members identified areas pertaining to the ministry, its attached departments and autonomous bodies to look upon urgently.
The members said although Pakistan Television has services of senior producers and technicians who are enjoying good salaries and perks yet it is still observed that teleplays and other programs are purchased from private sector which cost the institution a lot more.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed while giving recommendations on the issues to be taken up stressed upon the need for checking the committee's performance over the last three years. He also suggested to give importance to preservation of literary, cultural and archaeological heritage. Matters of observation of quota in appointments in state enterprises including PTV, Radio Pakistan, APP and PID was also highlighted in addition to having and implementing a proper code of conduct for the ever-increasing media landscape of Pakistan.
Senator Khushbakht Shujaat while giving her recommendations said that the observation of PEMRA's code of conduct in morning shows, children programming and Ramzan transmission needs to be looked into. She also said that political appointments in state enterprises and output efficiency of highly paid producers and directors in the same also need to be reviewed.
However, some members opined that as local film production has hit record low during past few years, it is necessary to allow exhibition of Indian films in local circuit to keep local cinemas functional till local films production gets momentum.
They also said decrease in local films production is tantamount to retreat on cultural front which may damage national identity, so revival of local films should be topmost priority. They also expressed concern over exhibition of Indian cartoons on the television channels which was having negative impacts on the minds of the children and affecting their diction.
They said they would like the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to take corrective measures in this regard. Some members also showed their reservations on the contents of morning shows.
While highlighting the importance of showing the world a true and positive picture of Pakistan, Chairman Committee Senator Faisal Javed Khan remarked that lack of proper distribution outlets is damaging the cause of Pakistan and the committee will take up the matter of whether a government functionary is present to look into how and where Pakistani media has presence in the world and what it is projecting and if no, what the reasons are thereof. He also stressed that briefing on percentage of time slots allocated to political parties during news on PTV and quality of transmissions will also be reviewed.
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