The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information has directed the PTV to telecast live all major sports events taking place in the country. This direction came in the Committee meeting held on Thursday under the leadership of Rehana Aleem Mashahdi.
The Committee also asked the PTV to improve 'quality' programming to preserve our culture, because, in the Committee's understanding private channels were screening 'sub-standard programmes', that were having negative impact on the young generation. This was probably a couched observation on the recent performance of a few TV channels that aired realistic presentation of events unfolding on the streets.
This aspect has caused even concern to the President and he spoke about it in the meeting with PML legislators. At present it is only a guess emanating from the direction passed on to the Information Ministry to 'interact' with the Cabinet Division that should 'advise Pemra to observe the censor policy and code of conduct.' The Committee also asked PTV to follow merit in recruitment policy.
However, PTV PD Yousaf Baig Mirza told the Committee that presently there was a shortage of technically skilled personnel, therefore, it had to make contract recruitment. Otherwise, the organisation was trying its best to improve its programming.
Those present in the meeting included Gule Farkhanda, Shahida Akhtar Ali, Rukhsana Bangash, Fauzia Habib, Dr Nisar Jatt, Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Meer Aijaz Hussain Jhakrani and state ministerTariq Azeem.