Shehbaz orders live broadcast of NA panels, PAC proceedings

Information ministry, NA speaker to work together for ‘urgent implementation’ of directives

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued directives to the lower house speaker for live broadcast of the proceedings of the standing committees and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to the public through television.

The prime minister wrote a formal letter to Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to complete the procedure. He wrote that a “revolutionary” step was taken by his brother and three-time premier Nawaz Sharif in the past when he launched PTV Parliament. He added that the second phase of this process should be started soon, which was stopped in the four years of the former PTI government.

The premier said that the proceedings of standing committees, an essential and important part of parliament, should be broadcast live, adding that in this regard, required limits and appropriate procedures should be formulated.

He mentioned in the letter that former NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb had started the procedure of conveying the proceedings of parliament to the nation in an efficient manner. He added that the move was well-received by the public, journalists, and people from all walks of life.

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“As a political activist and main leader of the party that created the Constitution, you are well aware of the importance of the Constitution and parliament,” he wrote in the letter addressed to Ashraf.

Shehbaz said that Marriyum has been instructed to complete this phase as soon as possible under Ashraf’s guidance.

“I hope that this effort of all of us will enhance the prestige of parliament,” he said. “The people, especially the youth, will be aware of the Constitution, their rights, the importance of parliament in a democratic system and its performance.”

He said that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in collaboration with the NA speaker, will ensure the urgent implementation of the second phase of the project.