The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Monday directed Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) to come up with a business plan to turn the corporation into a profitable organization.
The committee met with Senator Faisal Javed in the chair here on Monday where the director general gave a detailed briefing on Radio Pakistan.
The chairman committee observed that the PBC is in dire need of a well thought-out business plan under which it can operate efficiently. The PBC was directed to come up with a proposal to turn the corporation into a profitable organization.
The committee also took strong notice of unavailability of clear transmission of its medium wave station at 585 KH in different parts of the country. The chairman committee remarked that transmission of VOA and other broadcasters can be heard clearly despite the fact that they are operating outside Pakistan.
The committee was told that the medium wave transmission of Radio Pakistan reaches every nook and corner of the country but transmission is occasionally interrupted or unclear because the transmitters and other equipment are nearly 40 to 60 years old and have completed their age.
The same reason also results in closing transmission for 2 hours daily to avoid the equipment getting heated up. The members of the committee stressed upon improving the transmission and sought a comprehensive report on the reasons of interruptions thereof.
While discussing the changing dynamics of the present age, it was decided that the PBC Act also needs to be looked into again. The committee decided to review the law and directed the ministry to come up with proposed amendments: removing obsolete features and including new provisions for the digital age.
The matters of having a sound marketing strategy, improving cricket commentary standard, introducing regular Quranic pronunciation programs, training of upcoming talent, and having parliamentary representation on the board of directors were also discussed.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, said that Radio Pakistan is an important state organ and the government on directives of the prime minister is taking measures for making it a self-sufficient organization. She said that the Radio Pakistan management has been given three months target task to prepare a business plan.
She said that unfortunately in the past, inductions without merit were done in Radio Pakistan on political grounds.
She said that the prime mMinister has issued directives to empower the PBC and make it profit-earning department. She asked the members to give their suggestions for improvement of the Radio Pakistan as its guidance is vital to make it stand on its feet. She said that currently it is dependent on the government grant. She said that Radio is important state organ which has important role to play in projection of national narrative.
Senator Faisal suggested that the PBC can efficiently use its buildings to generate revenue. The committee highlighted the significance of the PBC and stressed that its content and transmission should be further improved.
Secretary Information and Broadcasting Zahida Parveen said that the government would have to give a bailout package to the organization to clear its current liabilities. She mentioned that the state broadcasters nowhere in the world make profits; rather they are supported by the governments.
Director General Radio Pakistan Samina Waqar gave a detailed briefing to the committee about the working of Radio Pakistan. She said that they are moving from analogue to digitalization for which a digital migration policy has been prepared. She said that this project will be completed in three phases costing Rs 4 billion. The project would be executed after the approval of the cabinet and provision of requisite funds, she said.
The special assistant said that the PM had directed that board of directors of PTV and Radio Pakistan should be merged and competent professionals should be appointed as its members, so that these organizations could be run on professional lines.
She said that Radio Pakistan is custodian of socio-cultural values and ideological boundaries of the nation and efforts are being made to upgrade its equipment with the cooperation of friendly countries. To a proposal that members of Parliament should be made members of Radio Pakistan board of directors, she said she has no objection but for this, legislation would have to be enacted.
Faisal Javed urged the Radio Pakistan management to improve the signal of medium wave transmission so that the listeners could benefit from its broadcast. He said Radio Pakistan could prove to be an information platform for the entire route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.
The chairman said Radio Pakistan has also a legacy of live cricket commentary and it should rediscover the same by hiring the best people in the field. He said this could prove to be an important source of revenue for the organization.
The standing committee directed Radio Pakistan to start a Tajweed Quran programme from next Monday. It also asked the organization to ensure timely payment of salaries, hiring allowance and pensions to its employees.
Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar said that there is a need to promote national narrative in Balochistan and Radio Pakistan can play an effective role in this regard if its transmission covers the entire province. He also demanded that Khuzdar radio station should be upgraded. The advisor assured that Khuzdar radio station equipment would be upgraded so that it can play its role in projection of national narrative in the area.
Senator Rubina Khalid said that state electronic media is responsible for character building of the new generation, and it should improve the quality of its contents and air programmes on civic issues like health and children. She regretted that no content is being broadcast for children on radio.
Awan said that it is good to know that in IOK where India has stopped media, it could not block the transmission of Radio Pakistan which is reaching there. She said when she assumed charge as special assistant, Radio Pakistan had no full time director general as additional charge was given to some officers which hampered effective running of its affairs but now this practice has been discontinued and a full-time DG has been posted.
The committee discussed in detail the matters related to outstanding commutation dues to be paid to pensioners and heavily overstaffing in the corporation. Members of the committee were of the view when the corporation is going in loss, there is no logic behind having 2,451 employees.
The committee was told that PBC has to pay Rs 167 million per month as salaries, pensions and commutations but it has a budget of Rs 127 million per month which is causing serious difficulties.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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