ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Friday discussed matters related to pension payments of Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan, the revival and rehabilitation of these institutions and feasibility plan for opening of new channels.

Chairman committee, Senator Faisal Javed Khan chaired the meeting of the committee during which Secretary Information Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera told the committee that PTV had to pay pension of Rs 1419 million to its 279 employees.

While Rs 35 million was paid to 26 widows and Rs 48 million was paid to 18 retired employees.

Rs 1330 million will be paid on availability of funds.

He said the new chairman and board of PTV had been appointed and the first meeting of the board would be held on Monday and the decisions taken by the board would be implemented.

The board members comprise all stakeholders and members had been taken from the provinces to bring improvement in the matters.

He said PTV reduced its expenditure by 15 percent and paid Rs 1.7 billion for different expenses.

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and present prime minister Imran Khan were given detailed briefing on payment of pension and other issues.

The chairman committee directed the ministry to formulate a method to ensure timely payment to the employees.

He said 76 percent of the budget of PTV was spent on salaries of employees.

The committee discussed the kind of coverage given to political leaders by television channels.

The committee was told that there were total of 127 television channels and 49 were news channels.

The committee observed that Senate committees should be given coverage on television channels as were given to committees of the National Assembly.

The committee meeting was attended by Senators Muhammad Tahir Bizenjo, Senator Robina Khalid, Senator Khushbakht Shujaat and others.