KARACHI, Jan 31: Speakers at a seminar on “Private TV channels in Pakistan - better late than never- how can we make up for the lost time” here on Thursday emphasized for tolerance in society to face reality and called upon the government to exercise minimum authority and censorship over the media.

They praised the federal government’s decision of Jan 16 allowing private radio stations and TV channels to operate in the country, and called for early finalizing of the code of conduct of the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA).

The seminar was organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation here in PPF-Vicky Zeitlin Media Library.

Tahir Khan, the chairman of Interflow Communications, and former chief of the NTM, supported the idea of giving complete freedom to the media and expressed the view that private TV channels and radio stations should be given independence to compete in the market as it was the only way to survive in the long run.

He dispelled apprehensions about misrepresentation of our society’s norms and values by private channels, and said everyone has the right to express his/her point of view leaving it to viewers to judge for themselves without outside influence.

He gave example of the print media where no official censorship was exercised, saying those operating private TV channels and radio stations were responsible people, who did not need directions regarding national interests or social values.

Apart from official problems, he said, another major issue was the lack of interest by financial institutions for investing in the media. Despite starting late, he added, a free-market economy and relaxation of regulations would lead to development of the electronic media in Pakistan.

With hard work and uninterrupted activities over the years, all business- related private programmes of private TV channels were superior in quality as compared with those of the PTV. He hoped in due course of time they would make programmes of international standard on current affairs and news.

Fazal Qureshi of the Pakistan Press International praised the government’s decision, and deplored that the lack of credibility on the part of the PTV led Pakistanis to watch other countries’ TV channels.

He said experience from recent developments in the region had proved there was a need for powerful and independent TV and radio channels in the private sector.

He said the authorities should learn to trust journalists and entrepreneurs, and claimed that unnecessary restrictions upon the media had resulted in the projection of a wrong image of Pakistan at the international level and the government-controlled electronic media had not been able to counter them.

The MD of ARY Digital channel, Salman Iqbal, said one should not compare Pakistan with India as there were about 90 satellite channels there and India was a huge market. However, there was a lot of room for expansion in the region, including Pakistan, he said.

He said, instead of making regulatory bodies, the government should introduce incentive schemes to facilitate the private sector which would eventually increase business, thus increasing revenue collection.

The launching of a TV channel needed basic infrastructure, including cable networks, professionals’ training and other measures to improve viewership.

He called upon the government for early formulation of the code of conduct of the PMRA and council of complaints, expressing optimism that after these measures more private TV channels would be launched.

Ghazi Salahuddin of the Telebiz praised the measures taken by the government regarding opening up of the electronic media to the private sector, saying that communicating different points of view to the people would be possible through the electronic media as the majority of Pakistanis had no access to the print media mainly due to illiteracy.

He said the worst problem in our society is lack of tolerance and the role of the media is to promote rational debate on all issues.

“Gradually, we will learn to face realities,” he hoped.

He called for the setting up of professional training institutes for journalists and technical personnel required for the electronic media.—PPI