Yet another change has been made by the new government. Earlier today, Fawad Chaudhry, the Federal Information Minister announced a new, unified regulatory authority which will replace the existing Pakistan Electric Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) as well as the Press Council of Pakistan.
While interacting with the media outside the Parliament, the Information Minister said,
“[The PTI government] has decided [to do away] with PEMRA and Press Council and form a single, unified authority to oversee print as well as electronic and cyber media”.
The new regulatory authority, which will be named Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA) will contain top officials from the media industry, informed Fawad Chaudhry.
This new authority hopes to be more efficient and effective since it will have the mandate to monitor electronic, print and social media simultaneously and help look after the national interest, according to the Information Minister.
Chaudhry reiterated that all media censorship has been ended by his ministry. He pointed to the workings of the Pakistan Television (PTV), mentioning that the state-owned television network will now broadcast everything that happens in the parliament.
Criticizing the previous government, Fawad Chaudhry said that the government will not use the nation’s money for personal purposes. “PML-N government sustained itself through advertisements,” he added.
Via GEO
