KARACHI, July 21: Pakistan Television plans to launch a separate news and current affairs channel, PTV World, that will operate independently and telecast newsworthy items, said Federal Minister of Information Nisar A. Memon.

Talking to newsmen at his residence here on Sunday, he said from July 24 PTV World, which was watched in around 40 countries, would have a separate news bulletin daily at 10pm. PTV 1 would continue to telecast its daily news bulletin at 9pm.

The official launch of PTV World would be announced in the near future.

The minister said separate news bulletins from PTV 1 and PTV World would encourage competition. He claimed that PTV was setting a high standard of professionalism. “I have told the PTV channels to telecast only newsworthy items.”

“Radio Pakistan and PTV are now free and independent, and they are engaged in projecting Pakistan both at home and abroad,” Mr Memon said.

He recalled that when he was minister of information in the caretaker government in 1993, the electronic media was made independent by promulgating an ordinance. However, the government which came to power after the elections in 1993 allowed the ordinance to lapse, he deplored.

The minister said the present government had set up the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), which would give permission to set up private radio and TV channels in the country.

Pemra had invited interested parties to apply and would give them licence to operate private radio and TV channels before the general elections in October, he said.

Talking about relations with India, Mr Memon said India should re-initiate the process of dialogue with Pakistan. — PPI