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.