The government has announced plans to launch two new channels despite the plaintive situation of all state-owned channels.
The decision was made in a National Assembly Standing Committee meeting held at PTV headquarters Islamabad. The members agreed that PTV is generating an insubstantial revenue where the cost of operating exceeds the income.
The members “brainstormed” that the solution to this ailing condition of PTV channels is to launch two new channels. According to the committee’s announcement, following two channels will be launched by PTV;
The report says that Planning Commission Form-1 (PC-1) has been formulated for PTV Kids channel. PC-1 for the Parliament channel will be completed in the next four months through funds allocated in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
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Information Secretary Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, talking about PTV’s revenue and income, said;
PTV’s revenues are gradually declining every year and it has become difficult to meet the expenses within limited resources.
He further added that efforts are being made to decrease the operating costs and increase the profits.
It is to be noted here that PTV is financially supported by taxing the general consumers on bills as well. The national broadcaster earns Rs 7.3 billion from utility bills, has free-to-air coverage across the country with the widest coverage among all channels and somehow it still fails to generate any profits.
Talking about generating more revenue Sukhera added that 25% share will be given to any employee who brings in ads for the company.
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The committee also discussed the pending dues matter that PTV owes to its current and former employees. The Information Secretary told that current government has never deposited the pension money that the retired PTV employees were promised during its tenure.
Sukhera added that a summary of the total amount has been forwarded to the Prime Minister office. Hopefully, the money to cover the pensions will be deposited in the accounts in next few weeks, he added.
