It was revealed during the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage meeting, held on Friday at PTV Headquarters.
The members of the NA Standing Committee were informed that currently PTV is unable to generate more revenue and the earning is lower than its expenses.
“PTV’s revenues are gradually declining every year and it has become difficult to meet the expenses within limited resources,” said Information Secretary Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera.
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He said that PTV‘s own income is too low meanwhile “it earns Rs7.3 billion from utility bills.”
“However all out efforts are underway to decrease expenses and increase its revenues,” he said.
He also informed the members of the committee that a new policy will be chalked out under which any employee who will bring ads for PTV will get 25% share from it.
Meanwhile talking about unpaid dues of PTV retired employees, he said that a summary has been moved to the prime minister in this regard and hopefully within few weeks they will get to hear some good news.
Sukhera further disclosed that the amount for paying pending pension dues of the retired PTV employees has never been deposited during present government’s tenure.
While talking about two new channels he said PC-1 of ‘PTV kids’ has been formulated meanwhile, for ‘PTV Parliament’ it will be completed within four months through funds allocated under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Revival of country’s ailing film industry
During the meeting Minister of State for Information Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb unveiled federal government's budget proposals for reviving the country's ailing film industry.
According to the state minister, the government proposed tax holiday for 10 years on the import of latest equipment being used in the film industry. Sales tax reduction on the film industry for the 10 years was also proposed, she added.
Similarly, the government proposed easy loan facility for up to Rs50 million for making films. While expressing concern over the state of artists, the minister said the government would establish 'Artist Assistance Fund" for the welfare of people associated with the showbiz industry.
Under the proposed Fund, artists would be issued health cards so that they could avail best medical treatment. She said her ministry was working on the package for film industry for last 8 months, adding that this would significantly support those associated with the film making.
She regretted that in the past film industry was completely ignored. “Many countries including Iran, Qatar and others used their film industry to project their positive image to the outside world”. She said the Pakistan film industry had the potential to produce world class movies while referring the success of the movie Punjab Nahi Jaungi in the box office.
She further expressed concern over airing Indian content through Pakistani TV channels.
“If India is not airing Pakistani content then Pakistan should also not air Indian content,” she said.
On the occasion she announced that 11 new programme will soon be started on PTV Sports.
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‘CPEC a game changer’
Speaking as chief guest at the third anniversary of China Cultural Centre at Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) here she said that CPEC initiative is proof of Pak-China friendly state-to-state relations and cooperation that both sides enjoyed with each other.
She added the cultural diplomacy between Pakistan and China had further cemented the deep-rooted bilateral relations. The minister observed that the Pak-China friendship had been given different names at different times and CPEC had unleashed a new era of bonhomie between the two countries.
Chinese ambassador Yao Jing, senior officials of Chinese embassy, DG PNCA Jamal Shah were also present on the occasion.
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