Senate panel for ‘transformation’ of state media organizations

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Wednesday emphasized on the transformation of the state media organisations on modern lines to meet new-era technology.

The committee was chaired by Senator Faisal Javed Khan, in which, the committee lauded the Information Ministry to carry out fast-track digitisation of state media institutions under the prime minister’s “Digital Pakistan” vision.

The meeting was also briefed on award of TV broadcast rights for the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) to a private television channel.

The PTV officials briefed the committee that the matter was sub judice and explained that an advertisement was issued in the national newspapers to award the broadcast rights for PSL.

Senator Irfanul Haque Siddiqui asked whether due process was followed in awarding broadcast rights to the TV channel.

It was informed that specific TV channel with some reservations did not take part in the bidding process.

Senator Irfan asked the PTV officials to submit a comprehensive report to the committee on award of broadcast rights.

The PTV officials explained that a comprehensive reply, already submitted to the court, would be presented to the body in the next meeting.

Managing Director Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Mobashir Hasan apprised the meeting that a project worth Rs786.79 million had been launched for upgrading and digitalization of APP. Out of the total amount, some Rs671 million would be spent to procure equipment for the overall transformation of APP from textual to digital mode.

Data centres and new state-of-the-art studios were also being set up for the purpose, he added.

Senator Faisal Javed appreciated the MD APP for transforming the state news agency on modern lines and in accordance with the vision of the prime minister.

The meeting was also briefed on overall functioning, human resource and financial portfolio, current strength and footprint of the state news agency, mandated to create, develop, and disseminate content for public consumption through various media.

The MD APP apprised the Senate body that there had been over 400 subscribers of the news agency, which had bilateral news exchange agreements with 50 international news agencies.

It also had international clients including Agence France-Presse (AFP), Gulf News, Khaleej Times, BBC Monitoring, China Economic Net, Al-Jazeera, and others.

He said the APP was offering news services to its clients in multiple national and regional languages including Arabic, Chinese, and English. Its services for various forms of news media included textual, digital, pictorial, video, features etc, he added.

The meeting was informed that the APP had its correspondents in foreign countries to disseminate Pakistan-related news to the local subscribers, and their deployment was made on merit under a transparent process.

The committee chairman also took up the royalty issue for the artists and asked the PTV to explain the reasons for discontinuing the facility to the artists.

It was informed that the national TV provided royalty to the artists in 1980s.

The chairman said the PTV did generate revenues by telecasting dramas, but it was unfortunate that now the artists were not getting any royalty in the country, whilst it was given across the globe.

“Rich artists may not need the royalty, but poor ones are facing financial constraints,” he noted.

Senator Faisal asked the PTV management to take steps to give royalty for the artists and submit a formal report on the dramas telecast by the national TV in the last one year.

He asked the MD PTV to visit the residences of artists who were facing financial issues.

The PTV management was also directed to update the committee in the next meeting about mechanism to award royalty for artists.

The chairman proposed to set up a welfare fund at the PTV for artists.

Details of the mechanism, to be evolved for the purpose, should be shared with the committee in the next meeting, he added.

Senator Faisal also sought complete details of the assets and buildings owned by the PTV.

Senator Irfan said there was no need to vacate existing or set up new buildings for the PTV, rather full support be ensured for improving the national TV performance.

The committee chairman said the PTV had a huge network for disseminating footage to all organisations across the country.

Senator Faisal noted telecast of Turkish drama series “Ertugrul” on the national TV had an overwhelming response, and added efforts were underway to produce documentaries on great Muslim ruler Tipu Sultan and Mughal King Zaheer Uddin Babar.

The forum was briefed about working and performance of Shalimar Recording and Broadcasting Company.