Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Aneesa Zeb Tahirkheli said the media in Pakistan is growing very rapidly these days. She was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of an online news agency Live Rostrum here on Saturday.
The Minister said that the media growth in Pakistan had been very rapid and in a shorter span of time.
She pointed out that before 1999 there were a couple of channels in Pakistan whereas in other parts of the world as well as in our neighbouring country there was a growth of channels.
As such Aneesa added, we were to keep pace within minimum time period.
Therefore, the government of Pakistan took measures for this very purpose such a 'cross media policy' is discouraged in many countries of the world so that there be no monopoly.
However, we encouraged this in Pakistan so that the established newspapers possessing resources as well as manpower if contribute towards electronic media they can play an important role in minimum possible time towards the media growth.
The Minister said that permission was granted for framing special law for the growth of the media, adding the law now has been approved by the National Assembly and has come before the Senate.
In the meantime, provisional permission was granted and the electronic media channel by the newspapers started coming up, she added. Regarding the market share by such channels, Aneesa was of the view that the fittest would survive and would get the bigger share of the market.
She said that new innovations, techniques as well as equipment and technology would be required.
The Minister was of the view that the public and the viewers would make a decision on the basis of credibility and standard. She said that the media growth in Pakistan would be appreciated and extended the support.
Earlier, Mirza Shahnawaz Agha, Declarant of Live Rostrum, in his speech maintained that this is the first of its kind facility.