Auditing information and broadcasting: Ministry asked for details on advertising

Committee calls for briefing on conflict between Punjab govt and Midas; asks PTV to shape up.

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on Friday directed the information ministry to furnish details of issuance of advertisements to newspapers in the last three years.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Kamil Ali Agha at the Parliament House, was informed that the Press Information Department (PID) has established a social media cell for quick dissemination of information about government activities to major social media networks.

The committee also directed the information ministry to brief them regarding the conflict between the Punjab government and M/s Midas Pvt Ltd.

PID’s Principal Information Officer Muhammad Azam informed the committee that the department arranges projection of all official activities of federal functionaries and accords full coverage and projection to these activities in both print and electronic media for information of general public.

The PID extends full support to both electronic and print media in terms of providing accreditation cards enabling them to attend official functions without any hindrance.

Information Secretary Chaudhry Rashid Ahmed informed the committee that some departments are not giving advertisements to newspaper through the PID, which is violation of rules.

He said summary has been moved in this regard to the prime minister to prohibit these departments from releasing advertisements directly.

The committee directed the PTV management to submit details of appointments made during last three years and coverage given to various political parties. The committee also recommended that PTV board of directors should be re-constituted as it would help improve its performance.

Kamil Ali Agha also said that press attaches deployed in foreign countries should be directed to ensure regular transmission of PTV in their respective countries. The committee also directed PTV to take steps to improve the quality of its programmes.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2012.