Members of the opposition during National Assembly standing committee on information and broadcasting meeting accused the government of promoting anti-Islamic values through electronic media. The meeting, held on Thursday in the parliament house, was attended by information minister Sheikh Rashid and other members.
Talking to Business Recorder, MMA MNA Abdul Akbar Chitrali said the committee members expressed grave concern over spreading of the Western values through different channels.
He said a country having an Islamic ideology could not afford such cultural changes in the society. Chitrali said committee members had asked the concerned minister to ban telecast of programs negating Islamic principles.
We have to collectively save our culture and Islamic values before it is too late, he said, adding rulers are deliberately promoting western values in the name of so-called enlightened moderation.
Maulana Chitrali also informed the committee also took strong note of illegal recruitment and promotions in the Pakistan Television (PTV), on which the concerned minister has promised to produce written answers in the next meeting.
He said the committee noted almost 80 percent population of Chitral and Northern Areas was deprived of PTV and FM radio transmission. The information minister informed committee members the PTV and FM radio transmission would be extended to Northern Areas and Chitral.
FM radio transmissions would launch in nine places in Northern Areas and seven places in Chitral during next couple of months, the minister told the committee.
Meanwhile, a press release issued by the PID said the committee lamented dwindling standard of PTV dramas and directed authorities to improve it.
The committee also recommended installation of powerful transmitters to provide media coverage to far-flung areas like Chitral, Northern Areas, Umar Kot and Mithi and directed the managing-director to compete with new challenges of the electronic media.