Senate body chief wants end to arbitrary actions by cable operators

Pemra chief says cable operators have to mend their ways after introduction of DTH
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage on Tuesday asked the government to take steps for the early implementation of the electronic media code of conduct, finalised by the committee after consultations with all stakeholders.
The committee meeting, chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, was of the opinion if the code of conduct was notified and implemented now, it would also be helpful in achieving the targets set under the National Action Plan (NAP) to fight terrorism and extremism.
He asked the information secretary why the notification to implement the media code of conduct was which was reviewed unanimously by all the political parties. The information secretary informed that the matter was under consideration of the government. At this, the chair said that it must be implemented right now.
About the rating of the TV channels, the members of the committee were of the view that it should be done under Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra). The information secretary said that there was no such provision in Pemra laws. At this, Senator Farhatullah Babar said when private institutions were doing this why it was not done by Pemra.
Kamil Ali Agha raised the question of bringing an end to the arbitrary actions of the cable operators. At this Pemra chairman said that in response to the complaints against their violations, Pemra had cancelled 424 licences and imposed a fine of Rs70 million. He said that the cable operators had to mend their ways after the introduction of DTH, digital broadcasting and telecasting of the cable networks on mobile phones.
Senator Farhatullah Babar said the draft of the code of conduct had been hanging in the balance for the past few years and if it is not implemented now, it might undermine the efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism and extremism.
The committee asked Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to establish its own system of rating, as the current system of rating private television channels was not reliable.
Secretary IB&NH Muhammad Azam Khan told the meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had formed a committee on the electronic media code of conduct, but after unfortunate incident of December 16 last year, focus was shifted to the overall role of Pemra.
Pemra Chairman Pervaiz Rathore said the authority was planning to launch Direct to Home (DTH) service soon and a foreign consultant was being hired who would complete study within 90 days.
Moreover, he said bidding for sale of licences of seven satellite channels would also be done soon. About the PTV MD’s statement that in the past, managements of the PTV used to fudge figures to show that they were earning profit, Farhatullah Babar said it was a responsibility of the committee to investigate the matter and summon the former MDs as it was a big crime.
The PTV managing director stated that the appointment of directors was discretion of the competent authority, but some people make it an issue of ego and go to courts and get stays. He said about 100 cases were pending in the courts and most of the cases were inherited by the present management. He said PTV’s turnover in the next three years would cross Rs36 billion.
The committee said the PTV should be careful in repayment of Rs2 billion loan; if it defaults it could prove fatal for it.
About the appointment of the MD, the information secretary said his name was proposed by the board and the PM appointed one from the two names, given by the board.
The committee said PTV should start drama production again as senior PTV producers were earning tens of millions of rupees.
The committee was informed that in the past, the PTV management used to give advance payments to private production houses for purchase of dramas from open market, but now a new policy has been adopted that first instalment would be paid after telecast of four episodes.
He said the income generated by the PTV through electricity bills was spent on salaries and medical bills of the staff and the institution had no money for new purchases and up-gradation including computerisation of its record.
He said the PTV was running 128 RBS and it was covering financially unviable areas like Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas as well. Radio Pakistan Director General Imran Gardezi told the committee that some programme section personnel working in News and Current Affairs channel had been transferred to the programme section.
The meeting was attended by Senators Farhatullah Babar, Saeed Ghani, Farha Aqil, Shirala Malik, Almas Perveen, Zafar Ali Shah, Najmul Hassan Khan and Daud Achakzai. Senior officials of the information ministry, PTV and Radio Pakistan were also present in the meeting.