Reforms in information ministry being resumed, says Fawad

Minister terms revival of film and drama 'first priority'

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday said that the process of reforms that was initiated in the ministry in 2018 is being resumed.

"The process that was started in 2018 to initiate reforms in the information ministry is being resumed," the minister said in a series of Twitter posts.

Fawad said that PTV News will be made into a high-definition (HD) channel by June 1, adding that the matter has been delayed since 2019.

Also read PTI senator congratulates Fawad Chaudhry on ‘reappointment as information minister’

"PTV Sports will also be made an HD channel in the same year," the minister added.

 

وزارت اطلاعات میں اصلاحات کا جو سلسلہ 2018 میں شروع کیا تھا اسے وہیں سے دوبارہ شروع کیا جا رہا ہے، #PTVNews کو HD کرنے کا منصوبہ جو 2019 سے التواء میں تھا یکم جون تک مکمل کرنے کی ڈیڈ لائین دی ہے انشاللہ یکم جون سے #PTVNews مکمل HD پر چلاجائیگا، اسی سال #PTVSports بھی HDکریں گے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 21, 2021

Terming the revival of film and drama "first priority", Fawad said young filmmakers will also be given loans.

فلم اور ڈرامہ کا Revival پہلی ترجیح ہے، سرسید احمد خان اور ٹیپو سلطان کی زندگیوں پر عالمی سطح کی پروڈکشن پر کام شروع کیا جا رہا ہے، نوجوان ڈرامہ اور فلم سازوں کو کامیاب جوان پروگرام سے پانچ کروڑ روپے تک قرضے کی سہولت دیں گے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 21, 2021

The minister further announced that journalists will be given housing under the prime minister's housing scheme and health cards to those associated with print and electronic media.

Moreover, he informed about legislation to ensure the payment of salaries, adding, "We'll fully support the digital media."

پرنٹ اور ٹی وی میڈیا سے وابستہ صحافیوں کیلئے وزیر اعظم ہاؤسنگ پراجیکٹ سے ذاتی گھر اور صحت کارڈ کی سہولت دیں گے ، تنخواہوں کی ادائیگی لازمی کرنے کیلئے قانون سازی اور انشورنس لا رہے ہیں، پریس کلب کو سہولتیں دینا بھی میری پالیسی ہو گی۔ Digital Media کو مکمل سپورٹ دیں گے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 21, 2021

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader was reappointed as the minister for information and broadcasting a week ago.

He was first appointed on this post on August 20, 2018, before being removed in April 2019. On April 28, 2020, Shibli Faraz was sworn in as the new information minister, in a ceremony held at the President House.

Fawad’s appointment came following a major reshuffle in the federal cabinet. It was earlier reported that PM Imran is expected to announce a cabinet reshuffle, potentially replacing several ministers and picking up some new faces.