Business community urged to provide funding for agriculture-based TV channel

Agricultural contents need to be made an essential part of electronic media headlines to guide people especially from rural area about the latest trends in agriculture as majority of our population is living in villages.
This was stated by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Chairman Absar Alam while addressing a seminar on "role of electronic media in economy and agriculture sector in Pakistan" as the chief guest. The session presided over by UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan was organized by Public Relations and Public Relations Department, UAF.
He urged the media to dedicate time for agricultural content that will help farming community to increase the productivity. He said media is the fourth pillar of the state and have the power to influence masses' mind and opinion building. He said that 70% economy of the country depends on agriculture as the sector dominates economy by providing food, employment, income and foreign exchange. He said that electronic media can play a pivotal role by assisting in the delivery of accurate and timely information for agri sector. Electronic media is the most reliable and quick source of information to get updates on weather, and knowledge about new techniques and technologies. He said that world ranked universities like Howard University , Cambridge University etc are having the Endowment Fund in which business men are providing the funds for research and development and other facilities. He urged the business class of Faisalabad to fund an agricultural based TV Channel at the UAF for the farming community of the country.
He said: "the media groups are not highlighting the real issue of the public. The focus of all programs was revolving around the politics and sensitization. Whereas, real issues of public remains at the distance. He said that Indian and Pakistan media were the most difficult which depend upon the sensitization. He said that Pakistani media among the freest in Asia when it comes covering politics. He was of the view that it was not only the fault of the media persons but also of the public who want to watch such things. He said that media didn't give the proper time to Indian Held Kashmir issue. He said that out of 91, only four channels are going in profit and rest of them are facing the loss.
He said that the PEMRA was a revolutionary body and all possible steps are being taken. He said that according to article 19 of constitution of Pakistan, the Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, [commission of] or incitement to an offence." He said that there were 91 total satellite TV channels out of which only five are educational, one agriculture based whereas 50 entertainments and 35 news channels. He said that the 60,000 cable operators are working in the country.
He said that Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) has also been requested to allot a specific frequency for FM Radio stations in Tehsils of Agriculture zones of the country. He said that the Qandeel Baloch was murdered due to sensitization of his scandal with Mufti Abdul Qavi. He urged to media persons to shun sensitization journalism and divert their attention towards the real issue of a common man. He said that the PEMRA was first working on regulating.
UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan urged the media to give proper time for agriculture sector. He said that time specific for agriculture sector on the electronic media is negligible. He said that the country was having the abundant food but 40 percent of our population is food deficient mostly comprising rural population. He said that usage of electronic media would help the people to get aware with the modern trends as the TV is being watched in every village of the province. He said that the UAF research and development budget has exceeded to Rs 2.5 billion which is highest in the Pakistan. He said that this year the cotton production has faced decline in the production worth billions of rupees. He said that the UAF has developed a new variety of cotton which is climate tolerant. He also said that the UAF had developed ten varieties of mangoes also and heat tolerant hen.
In the welcome address, Principal Officer Public Relations and Publications Dr Jalal Arif said journalism plays an important role for the development of the country appreciated. He said that UAF was the only institution in the country ranked among the top 100 varsities of the globe. He said that during last 8 years, the UAF was opened up new golden chapters of the history. He said PEMRA has improved the standards of information, education, entertainment and elegance to enlarge the choice of Pakistan's people including news, current affairs, culture (etc and a lot more). He said that the university has paced up its outreach program and community service to address the problem of the farming community. He said that UAF was providing the suggestions to the government for the uplift of agricultural sector. The suggestions are being applauded at the government level. He said that it is the first ever university of the country ranked among the top 100 universities of the globe.