RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National History and Literary Heritage has asked the government to provide maximum funding to the ministry of information (MoI) for promoting Pakistani culture, heritage, film industry, drama and performing arts.

The committee meeting was held with MNA Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla in the chair on Wednesday.

The committee examined the PSDP proposals for financial year 2018-19 in detail. After having detailed deliberation, the committee approved the projects with following directions/recommendations.

The committee recommended the ministry to complete the process of airing channels including PTV Kids and PTV Parliament on priority basis.

The committee suggested the ministry to include matter of building boundary wall of Bahawalpur Radio Station in 2018-2019 PSDP.

The secretary information ensured the committee that he will follow up and inquire about the matter of missing paintings of renowned painters from the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) and will brief the committee in this regard in 10 days.

The committee appreciated Minister for State Marriyum Aurangzeb and secretary information on announcing new cultural and film policy and hoped that it will boost Pakistani film industry not only within Pakistan but also at international level. The committee also appreciated dubbing of Pakistani Urdu dramas in Pashto and Dari languages.

The committee deferred the ‘Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2017’ moved by MNA Dr Fauzia Hameed and briefing about new agreement of air-time rent of Shalimar Recording and Broadcasting Company (SRBC) owned television Channel ATV till its next meeting.

The committee also unanimously confirmed the minutes of its previous meetings held on Dec 28, 2017.

MNAs Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, Zeb Jaffar, Parveen Masood Bhatti, Arifa Khalid Parvez, Chaudhry Muhammad Tufail, Imran Zafar Leghari, Belum Hasnain, Dr Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon, and Naeema Kishwer Khan attended the meeting. Besides the minister of state, senior officers of the Ministry of Information Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage, and officers of the PEMRA, Internet Protocol and SRBC attended the meeting.