ISLAMABAD, May 25: An introductory meeting of Standing Committee of Senate on Information and Broadcasting was held at the Parliament House here on Tuesday.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Nisar A. Memon, presided over the meeting which was attended by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

The members of the Committee who attended the meeting were: Senators Khalil-ur-Rehman, Deputy Chairman of Senate Asfandyar Wali Khan, Ms Gulshan Saeed, Tariq Azeem Khan, Ms Tanveer Khalid, Syed Dilawar Abbass, Ms Tahira Latif, Syed Sajjad Hussain Bukhari, Syed Muhammad Hussain and Haji Liaqat Ali Bangulzai.

Briefing newsmen about the meeting, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that the government had been pursuing the policy of free media and steps were being taken for its further promotion.

In the electronic media sector, the minister said the government had allowed seven channels in the private sector while permission had been given for 13 other channels.

He said the case for other 30 channels was in the pipeline. The minister said that the matter of allowing the cross-media ownership was being considered to be taken up in parliament to amend relevant laws.

He said that 55 FM channels had been granted permission while cases of other 80 FM channels were under study. The minister said that a modernization plan in the PTV was carried out with a special grant of Rs840 million provided by the government.

He said plans to install new boosters to enhance the scope of PTV coverage was being considered and would be finalized as soon as the necessary funding was made available. He said the PBC also required modernization, as its existing equipment was over 30 years old.

In the print media sector the minister said that the policy to release advertisements to the newspapers had been streamlined and 25 per cent of the total advertisements quota in the sector, were being given to regional newspapers. The Chairman of the Committee appreciated the role of the ministry in proper projection of national causes especially during sensitive days. -APP