Sub-committee formed for rights of media workers

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Wednesday formed a sub-committee under MNA Syed Aminul Haque to furnish a report on the issue of payment of salaries to media workers.

The sub-committee would discuss and a have look at the current status of payment of salaries/ outstanding dues, and then suggest measures for ensuring rights of media workers.

The committee met here at the Pemra Headquarters under the chairmanship of Pullain Baloch to discuss agenda related to state-run TV, Pemra and other liabilities of employees of state-run recording and broadcast company.

The forum expressed concern at state of affairs at certain media houses and directed Pemra and Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE) to ensure payment of salaries of electronic and print media workers and discharge of contractual obligations by their employers.

The committee discussed the issues of media workers and opined that it would not spare any effort in resolving them.

The forum commended the efforts of Pemra and ITNE and suggested for bringing stringent regulations in the relevant Acts of Parliament for upholding the rights of media workers.

The committee also directed for early appointment of remaining members of the Pemra Board, Provincial Council of Complaints and a member of the ITNE.

The Pemra chairman and director general (operations) briefed the committee about the working and performance of the authority since its inception. The committee was informed that Pemra under the Act had been mandated to facilitate and regulate electronic media.

The director general briefed the panel about the organisational structure of the authority, composition of Pemra Board and Council of Complaints. He informed the forum about the pending and disposal of complaints in the Council of Complaints.

The committee suggested formulation of a code of conduct for airing dramas and advertisements on TV channels conforming with the social and religious norms. It directed electronic media regulatory body to strengthening its regulatory mechanism, especially in small towns and rural areas to check the distribution of content permitted by Pemra on cable networks.

On the issues related to the state-run TV, the committee sought details of salary packages of all the anchors and panelists hired/ on the payroll of TV. The committee also asked the ministry to issue appropriate directions to the state TV for preparing initial proposal for a dedicated educational channel.

The forum expressed concern on the financial state of the state-run recording and broadcasting company. It was of the view that the company was in perpetual loss for the last many years.

The committee suggested that either the company be merged with the state-run TV or privatised while seeking a comprehensive briefing in this regard in its next meeting.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Daniyal Chaudhry, MNAs Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Saad Waseem, Kiran Imran Dar, Asia Naz Tanoli, Sehar Kamran, Syed Amin Ul Haque, Muhammad Moazzam Ali Khan, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting joint secretary, Pemra chairman officers of departments concerned.