Ratings company formation: PBA takes notice of official claims

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) has taken notice of statements issued by the acting chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and secretary information in connection with formation of a ratings company.

In an official statement, PBA denied PEMRA acting chairman’s claims that consultations were held with all the stakeholders for the formation of a ratings company.

It said PBA’s take on the matter has been crystal clear right from the beginning. Regulation of electronic media content by the government and the formation of a ratings company are highly controversial matters, the PBA noted.

Such steps can be used as weapons against the free media by any government, affecting people’s right of free access to information as enshrined in the Article 19 of the Constitution.

It pointed out that the past attempts by the governments to regulate content carried by print and electronic media never produced positive results and we should learn from these experiences.

PBA said the media commission report issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan proposed to the government to reconstitute the ministry of information and PEMRA on solid grounds, allowing these bodies greater autonomy and freedom from administrative control.

The SC report had also recommended scraping of secret funds kept by the government for media and making the process for allotment of government advertisements transparent.

Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Pervaiz Rashid categorically denied any plans of government to form a ratings company.