ISLAMABAD, Nov 18: Search is on for the new managing director of Pakistan Television, and the information ministry is mulling over whether to make the new appointment through open competition or simple nomination by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Dawn has learnt.

The prime minister is the appointing authority for the top job of the national channel.

One section of the ministry is insisting that the post should be filled through open competition after its due advertisement in the national press.

However, there are more chances that the government would go for a hand-pick policy. The appointment of Dr Shahid Masood as the PTV head by the present government on a hefty salary of Rs850,000 per month had raised many eyebrows.

Dr Masood had to resign due to his confrontation with Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman.

At present, PTV’s losses are running into billions of rupees - estimated over Rs7 billion - and it needs a thorough professional person to make it a profitable organisation.

According to knowledgeable sources in the information ministry, Mohammad Malik, who is working with an English newspaper, Kamran Lashari, Commissioner Islamabad, and Rashid Khwaja, head of the entertainment section of the TV channel, are in the run for the job.

However, the confrontation between the former MD PTV and the information minister has left a bad taste and the decision makers are taking extra care in the new appointment, so that the episode is not repeated in the future.