Ministry mulls PTV channel for kids infotainment

Move said to be part of establishing country’s first-ever children’s film society


Sehrish Wasif April 30, 2017
The channel will play an effective role in promoting our culture and beliefs through shows, dramas and movies meant for children. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: The information and broadcasting ministry is mulling over converting one of PTV’s already running channels into a children entertainment channel in a bid to create awareness among children about their rights and values.

This was decided in a recently held meeting presided over by State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb and attended by officials of relevant departments, a ministry official, who wished not to be named, told The Express Tribune.

“This is going to be the first time that there will be an official government-run television channel for children in the country,” the official said. Pakistan state television is running a number of channels such as PTV Home, PTV Global, PTV News, PTV National and PTV Sports.

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This move, the official said, comes amid plans to establish the Pakistan’s first-ever children’s film society to provide a platform for nurturing production and broadcasting movies and TV programmes. It has been decided to provide useful infotainment to children through a channel.

The official said the state minister had a meeting with renowned Pakistani actor, writer and artist Farooq Qaiser in which she discussed how to provide infotainment to children. The minister is also meeting other renowned professionals associated with the TV industry in Pakistan to get suggestions and ideas.

“Once the conversion is formally approved, it will then be decided which PTV channel will be converted,” the official said, adding that restrictions on the channel, who will head it and how it is going to be run would be decided later.

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“The channel will play an effective role in promoting our culture and beliefs through shows, dramas and movies meant for children,” said the official. “By producing and broadcasting movies and TV shows, we can help create awareness among children about their rights and values and also to motivate them to become good citizens.”

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