ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: The opposition got a total coverage of seven hours and 47 minutes against 92 hours and 45 minutes given to the government officials in the PTV Khabarnama and other news bulletins from Nov 23, 2002, to May 20, 2003.

This was stated by the minister for information and broadcasting, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, in a written reply to a question asked by MNA Asif Tauseef in the National Assembly on Friday.

The minister said the total duration of network news bulletins, including Khabarnama telecast, was 470 hours and 49 minutes.

Giving the breakup, the minister said the president got coverage of 31 hours, 33 minutes and 11 seconds in the PTV Khabarnama and other news bulletins.

During the same period, the prime minister received coverage of 53 hours, 14 minutes and 11 seconds while the information minister was given seven hours, 57 minutes and 39 seconds.

Mr Rashid said the president was given a coverage of four hours, 23 minutes and 38 seconds in the PTV Khabarnama, while the prime minister received coverage of eight hours, 11 minutes and 29 seconds. Similarly, the information minister got coverage of one hour, 48 minutes and 44 seconds.

The opposition was given a coverage of one hour, 55 minutes and 58 seconds in the PTV Khabarnama in the same period, he added.

In all the news bulletins other than Khabarnama, the president was given a coverage of 27 hours, 21 minutes and 23 seconds; while the prime minister got 45 hours, two minutes and 42 seconds coverage.

Likewise, the information minister received a coverage of six hours, eight minutes and 55 seconds; while the opposition got five hours, 51 minutes and 29 seconds.

In reply to another question asked by Dr Attaur Rahman, the information minister stated that the PTV had earned a profit of Rs6.045 billion under the head of advertisements during the past three years.

Giving yearly breakup, the minister said the PTV earned Rs1.925 billion in 2000-01, Rs1.971 billion in 2001-02 and estimated Rs2.148 billion in 2002-03.