Dear reader, online ads enable us to deliver the journalism you value. Please support us by taking a moment to
Govt plans new body to regulate media: Fawad
ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday announced a broad outline of the newly proposed Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA) to oversee print, electronic and social media.
The announcement set alarm bells ringing among stakeholders including journalists who complained that they had not been consulted on the issue and expressed scepticism over the government move that they said could contain media freedom in the country.
While briefing the Senate standing committee on information and broadcasting, Mr Chaudhry said the PTI government would regulate all media and “no one will be able to defame anyone under the new law”.
Amid uneasy gestures by senators, he told the committee that the government was working on a proposal to bring all media regulatory bodies under the proposed PMRA. This would be done by merging all existing rules and acts related to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), he said, adding that it would introduce one-window operation to address complaints and other regulatory aspects of the media.
Referring to the proposed law, Information Secretary Shafqat Jalil told the committee that in future electronic media would be allowed to air advertisements only after the approval of the information ministry.
The information minister said the draft had been forwarded to Pemra, PCP and other media bodies including Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors, All Pakistan Newspapers Society and the Pakistan Broadcasting Association.
Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2018
Comments (22) Closed
Excellent idea.
All rights carry responsibilities, and people who abrogate their responsibilities to the nation forego those rights.
The government shouldn't muzzle freedom of expression.
The next government will create another body, the process will continue!
Finally, sense prevails!
Below extract does not bode well:
'electronic media would be allowed to air advertisements only after the approval of the information ministry'.
What the minister wants to achieve by increasing regulatory red tape instead of limiting it?
General Musharaf was the first who granted freedom to media and the Private channels could air programs that would contains humiliating contents regarding sitting president but he never interfered or stopped any TV Channel from functioning. The same policy should be followed and lets not punish people with divergent view.
Why the Pakistani Media is afraid of defamation laws? if you publish a news, should stand by it and if it is not true face the consequences. What is wrong with it?
Behind the scene is just to control media according to Government wish.
Bravo! A few more IK relatives will be compensated soon.
Very good. Media think they can churn out lies anytime and cry freedom of expression.
Totally Agee. The journalists and TV media anchors in Pakistan freely report without verification, build sensational rumor mills and assume that they have a license to perform character assassinations which is wrong and cannot be considered responsible by any standards. While I fully support freedom of the press, the press should carry out its job in a responsible manner and there needs to be serious consequences for violating the public trust.
This is not how you reduce government expenditure.
PTI is feeling the heat.
Slowly but surely country is reaching to its natural state. This time it seems managed authoritarian setup.
IK Govt is worst than martial law
A really nice move by the Government. Fully appreciate it. Believe me most of these media persons are big goons and dons. Always hungry for money. If you give them then you are good and if you don't then they will defame you that you are most corrupt. Media should not defame anyone without solid proof.
Why are we not surprised? This is PTI's not even 100 days. Brace yourself for next 5 years brothers. Tomorrow if PTI tries silencing public noise, blind PTI supporters will still cheer for them with eyes full of happy tears.
@pervez yes we will spoort PTI.. because they are not corrupt like ur previous govt...
Curtailing freedom of expression will not work anymore, not in this day and age.
Well said Mr Minister — who is going to regulate what our honourable Information Minister. He has been disrupting senate sessions
@Hedonist Freedom of expression on the cost of national interests shouldn’t be allowed and tolerated by Government at all cost. Media should exercise self restraint and should behave like s responsible source of information for viewers and readers.
Bad News for Pakistani people . Now they will get 'More' biased & False news than before . Good Luck