Islamabad: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar Advocate says the government has enacted the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) law to regulate digital media.
Speaking at the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar said unchecked digital media can lead to serious societal issues, including incitement to violence.
The meeting was presided over by Committee Chairman MNA Pullain Baloch, who announced that a follow-up meeting would be held next week to devise a comprehensive solution to the issue. The committee held to discuss agenda relating to PSDP of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and its associated public bodies.
The Information Minister said the Ministry has worked out comprehensive plan to equip the Radio Pakistan and the Pakistan Television with the modern technology.
He also mentioned ongoing efforts to enhance the performance of PTV and Radio Pakistan, with a focus on expanding coverage in Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK.
He expressed concern over foreign-backed campaigns aimed at inciting rebellion among the youth in these areas. The Minister said through media, we will address these issues and guide the youth towards a positive direction.
Meanwhile Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting has approved the budgetary proposals of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for PSDP 2025-26, comprising of total 14 projects with proposed allocation of Rs.8.558 billion. The Committee while according approval to the proposal, asked the Finance and Planning Divisions to accord priority to these projects and make timely financial releases enabling the Ministry to initiate and complete the projects.
The committee was apprised that six ongoing and eight new projects have been included in the PSDP for the next year related to the upgradation of Infrastructure in PTV and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation. The projects included launching a dedicated Channel for live coverage of parliamentary proceedings with a total cost of Rs.1.6 Billion, establishment of Sport Studio with a total cost of Rs.1.7 Billion, Digital Channel of PTVC for alternative revenue streams with a total cost of Rs.780 million, extension of Sautul Quran FM Network (Peshawar - Karachi Motorways) with a total cost of Rs.550 million, strengthening radio signals in Gilgit-Baltistan area with a total cost of Rs.1 billion and replacement of Transmitting Equipment and Rehabilitation of PBC Lahore Building with a total cost of Rs.1 Billion.
The Committee underscored the need for expanding coverage of broadcast and telecast of content through state-owned Media and generating counter narrative for effectively countering anti-state propaganda specially in Balochistan and frontier regions. The Committee decided to have a briefing on the program content and the presenters of Radio Broadcast through PBC stations in Balochistan in its next meeting. The Committee commended all new initiatives of the Ministry. The Committee also decided to visit and have a briefing on newly established state of art Center for digital Communications in Islamabad.
The Committee taking note of the agitation by media with respect to recent legislation on electronic crimes, stressed for engagement between the government and all Unions of Journalists, Press Clubs, Associations of Director News, APNS and CPNE for addressing their concerns. The Minister for Information agreed with the proposal and said that the recent Law had nothing to do with curbing the freedom of expression and the same was to regulate the unregulated digital media sector.
The Committee called for provision of details of Anchors hired in PTV, their packages and recent hirings in all departments under the Ministry of Information in next meeting of the committee. The Committee while disapproving the reply of the Ministry on revision of rates of rents of PBC properties, directed to take up the issue with M/o Housing and Works for bringing the same at par with the prevalent market rates. The Committee observed that the Housing Ministry had fixed the rates of rent in year 2017 and considerable time had elapse thus necessitates revision. Taking notice of the excessive advertainments on TV channels during prime time and sports matches, the Committee directed PEMRA to issue advisory to its licensees to relay advertisements within the limit as prescribed in the PEMRA regulations.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, MNAs; Ms. Kiran Imran Dar, Ms. Asiya Naz Tanoli, Ms. Sehar Kamran, Syed Amin Ul Haq, Muhammad Miqdad Ali Khan, Moulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri Ms. Rana Ansar (through Zoom), Secretary, M/o Information and Broadcasting, Executive Director General (PID), Director General (PBC) and officers of concerned departments.