ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha on Friday apprised the National Assembly that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has autonomous body adding only policy supervision rested with the federal government.
Replying to various questions during Question Hour, he said that as per PEMRA Amendment Act, 2007, powers of the federal government vested in it vide section 5 was to issue policy directions, gave its opinion on policy issues referred to it by PEMRA or any other government agency. He said that being a regulator, PEMRA regulated and implemented all rules and regulations.
He said that PEMRA has set- up Council of Complaints at each provincial headquarters to implement the laws and resolve the grievance of the public about any aspect of the content being aired in private channels.
A toll free (0800-73672) Complaints and Cell Centre has also been established, wherein any member of the society could lodge complaints against any aspect of the private tv channels, he added.
Mohsin said in addition, PEMRA has also established a state of the art monitoring setup to monitor content being aired by the licensed satellite TV channels.
He said in case of any violation of laws, PEMRA took action through issuing advise, warnings and show cause notices to the violators. These proceedings further led to imposition of fine upto Rs.1 million.
To another question, he said that being a state institution in national broadcast media, PTV News over the years had been a firm exponent of two nation theory, the very basic of socio-political awakening of Muslims of British India. Two nation theory was highlighted in PTV’s programmes as a matter of routine, he added.
He said the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) was also broadcasting such programmes which promoted Islamic Ideology, national unity and principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice as enunciated by Islam.
The Parliamentary Secretary said being a mouth organ of the government and voice of the nation, PBC broadcast special programmes based on the essence of two nation theory and identity of Pakistan.
Mohsin said that Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation (APPC) has also been consistently and extensively projecting important national events with special focus on observance of Iqbal Day, Independence Day and Birth Anniversary of the Father of Nation through multilingual print, pictorial and video news services.
He said APPC provincial Bureaus, Stations, District Correspondent and Special Correspondents posted abroad, regularly contributed new items, photos and footage on the significance of these days along with historical backgrounds.
He said all the news products were promptly placed at APPC website and news portal which were frequently visited within country and across the border.
Mohsin said being a national premier news agency, APP attached special importance with regard to the coverage of these occasions as a regular annual feature.
