ISLAMABAD, Nov 20: Minister for Information and Media Development Nisar A. Memon has said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf appreciates the performance of the PTV particularly during the general elections.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day PTV General Managers’ Conference, the minister informed the audience that the president, during a cabinet meeting, had said that the standard of the Pakistan Television transmission was professionally up to the mark during the election 2002.

The information minister also appreciated the quality of the programmes, current affairs, news, and performance of the engineering sections.

He directed the PTV GMs to start preparations for the projection of the policies of the new government and asked them to set up a special media watch cell to update programmes, keeping in view the international trends.

PTV chairman Syed Anwar Mehmood said freedom of speech was effectively pursued during the Musharraf-led government. The trend set during the past three years would continue, the credit for which goes to the president, he added.

Managing Director Yousaf Baig Mirza said the PTV had faced every challenge and fulfilled the viewers’ requirements through its performance within the limited resources. If the policy continued, the PTV would compete and lead its contemporaries in the media war, he added.

He claimed: “PTV is far ahead in professionalism and expertise amongst the new channels and will strengthen its credibility through its programmes, news and current affairs.”

The managing director appreciated the guidance by the information minister which he said had made possible the achievement of the desired goals.—APP