Firdous suggests setting up ‘media courts’

The suggested courts will exclusively hear complaints by media industry against the govt as well as Pemra

KARACHI: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Wednesday suggested establishing "media courts" that will promptly resolve "issues" related to the media industry and ensure timely dispensation of justice.

The SAPM made these comments addressing a presser in Karachi after a meeting with the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA). She said that she had discussed the proposal with PBA members.

Firdous expressed her gratitude toward the Pakistani media for giving due coverage to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s United States visit and stressed that the premier considered the media its partner.

She said PM Imran’s successful visit to the US and the positive role of Pakistani media had forced the Indian media on the back foot.

The SAPM maintained that the PBA along with portraying a positive image and showing real face of Pakistan to the world was acting as first line of defence in the media war.

She lauded the role of PBA in safeguarding the integrity of the country.

Firdous observed that the suggested courts will exclusively hear complaints by the media industry against the government as well as the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the other way round.

Describing media workers as "the backbone of the media industry", Firdous said that she had taken up the problems of media workers with the PBA and promised that under a new policy, the government will be acting as a bridge between media employees and employers.

She said the new advertisement policy would help meet the financial crisis of the media industry.

"We have handed over the draft document of the policy to the PBA for finalisation," she said, adding that the rights of media workers and media houses will be protected under the new policy.

"The PBA communicated some complaints regarding the current regulator — Pemra. Being a facilitator, I will ensure the resolution of all justified complaints," she said.

She added that the PBA will play an effective role in implementing the proposed policy.

Speaking about social media, she said it did not fall in the domain of Pemra, "so we, after consultation with PBA, are going to take Pemra and others onboard" over regulating it.

"We are devising a strategy for social media; the details will be shared at a later stage," she said.

The SAPM declared that the government in coordination with EOBI was devising a mechanism for media workers to resolve their unemployment and health issues.

She noted that Pemra had issued licences for 58 new channels, which not only helped the government generate Rs5 billion but also created employment opportunities in the media industry.

Firdous further said that the government would introduce a media digitalisation policy to resolve the issue of "switchover" among channels on cable networks.