Information and Broadcasting

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is the principal arm of the Federal Government, to project and promote strengths & positives of the government and highlight its policies and achievements through print and electronic media both within the country and abroad. Dissemination of information for the public awareness, provision of feedback to the government on daily basis and facilitation of the media representatives for good Government-Press relationship is the primary responsibility of the Ministry.

The scope of the Ministry has tremendously increased due to the globalization / New World Information Order and the influx of private media channels. In view of the growing demand of the ever-expanding newspaper industry and mushroom growth of the electronic channels, the Ministry works proactively round the clock to achieve the desired results.

The efforts to promote free media are aimed at making the society more accommodating and more tolerant as also facilitating a truly democratic culture in the country. Legislative initiatives have been taken to promote self-regulation and accountability and create on enabling environment for healthy journalism.

Catering to the challenges posed by mushroom growth of electronic as well as print media in the public and especially in private sector the Ministry has conceived and triggered off a project to establish state-of-the-art Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Media University in Islamabad which is being established with active participation and collaboration of academia, media and civil society as well as top class foreign universities. Media university project’s core objective shall be to promote peace, democracy, and pluralism through free and competitive media development in the country.

INTERNAL PUBLICITY

            The Press Council of Pakistan with the appointment of Chairman has been made functional after a decade.

·         PEMRA Complaint Councils have been notified at the Federal capital and at provincial level.

·         Rs. 200 million Endowment Fund has been set up for the welfare of journalists as announced by the Prime Minister and its regulatory framework has also been formulated..

ONLINE MEDIA

Cyber Wing is engaged in promoting and projecting the country through online media. It creates, organizes and disseminates information to the people of Pakistan and to the entire world while utilizing the internet as universally accessible, low-cost and a modern information enabling platform. The main focus of Cyber Wing is the optimum utilization of interactive potential for projecting the country through different emerging media formats. Cyber Wing has designed, developed and maintains a number of Web Portals i.e.www.president.gov.pk, www.infopak.gov.pk,www.dfp.gov.pk,www.mediafellowship.edu.pk, www.presscouncil.org.pk, www.benazir.pk, & www.szab.pk, , It  also provides feed back to the Ministry and Government and  posted clarifications and rebuttals on the web.

PUBLICITY ABROAD

The External Publicity Wing is responsible for the projection of the Government policies through press officers in missions abroad. It is also responsible for the foreign media encounters with the President, Prime Minister and other VIPs as also arranged briefings and press conferences. During the period, 781 interviews and 203 Press Conferences were arranged in Pakistan and abroad. The wing facilitated foreign journalists and media delegations and provided them with publicity and promotional material. 93 media delegation and 2467 journalists were facilitated.

CIRCULATION AUDIT

This bureau conducted circulation audit of 406 newspapers and periodicals being published from different parts of Pakistan and issued ABC certificates to 272 dailies, 62 weeklies, 6 fortnightlies, 65 monthlies and one bi-monthly according to their assessment with the following.

TRAINING OF OFFICERS

The Information Service Academy (ISA) imparts Specialized Training to CSs officers of the Information Group. The purpose of this training is to equip them with analytical skills, capability to assess and create impact of public policies and provide support to the statecraft within the country and abroad though print and electronic media.

            The Academy arranged special courses for mediapersons of Gilgit‑Baltistan and FATA, and held a training course for the FATA/FANA in 2008 in which 24 journalists were trained in the modern media trends.

            The Academy also arranged workshops/orientation course on ‘Counter Terrorism Strategic Communication’. ‘Media Convergence: Challenges and Opportunities’ and ‘Introduction to Social Media’.

            The Academy arranged a joint workshop of the three academies of Foreign Service, Commerce and Trade and Information Service in 2009. The workshop offered them training in economic, political and public democracy. It also equipped them with professional tools including analytical and writing skills and common professional tools of the three occupational groups.

Linkages

HOME PUBLICITY

Press Information Department the principal organ of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The department has so far issued 17383 stories and around six thousand photos during the last four year for the publicity and projection of the government within the country. The department also issues clarifications and rebuttals to counter negative publicity. It also provides feedback to the government on daily basis.

Social Media Cell

            To exploit the potentials available to reach to the general public for favourable opinion of the government, social media was effectively utlised.

Facebook (English)

FILMS & PUBLICATIONS

            DFP shoulders the exclusive responsibility of disseminating the documented information within the country and abroad, both based on the government policies and on the progress made in the country. DFP’s magazines namely Pakistan Pictorial (English), Mah-e-Nau (Urdu), are essential tools in highlighting the policies as well as activities of the government. Its magazines published in English, Urdu, Pushto & Balochi.

            Apart from regular magazines, following special numbers were also brought out;-

·         Ahmad Faraz Number (Mah-e-Nau)

·         Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Number (Pak Jamhuriat)

·         Khushal Khan Khattack Number (Abaseen)

·         Mullah Fazil Number and Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi Number (Ulus)

Exhibitions

            DFP arranged a number of picture and painting exhibitions, especially a 3-day exhibition of rare photographs of Quaid-i-Azam and Pakistan Movement at KAMRA in collaboration with PAC and another 3-day thematic exhibition showcasing achievements of the democratic government.

Two special photo exhibitions were also arranged to commemorate the death of former Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on her first and second death anniversaries. ( 2008 & 2009).

ASSOCIATED PRESS OF PAKISTAN CORPORATION

During the last four years APP has extended special coverage to the Supreme Court, High Courts and the judiciary and activities in other important areas including sports, economy and social sector were extensively covered by the APP editorial team. Provincial bureaus, stations at metropolitan cities and district correspondents, working at grassroot level are rendering valuable professional contributions by covering important events.

To mainstream regional language media, agencie’s outreach was extended by upgrading Hyderabad Station as Bureau.

Sialkot has emerged as important hub of country’s exports-based commercial activities. Likewise, in order to ensure proper coverage of the economic and industrial activities of the city, a professional setup is being established. In order to widen the scope of proper coverage in multi-lingual media, the APP has established Siraiki, Sindhi and Pushto services at Islamabad headquarter.

APP also launches Arabic News Service to meet the professional requirements of Middle-East media. Important news are translated by Arabic News Service and transmitted through e-mail to different media outlets in the Arab World. 

BROADCASTING MEDIA 

A bilingual website in Urdu and English languages has been developed and launched by Radio Pakistan at http://www.radio.gov.pk. It has been connected to social networks like YouTube, twitter and facebook etc. In addition, the breaking news, headlines, exclusive interviews, news bulletins in audio and text format, sports and weather reports are also available on website. Mobile audio streaming for cellular phones has also been launched.

Up-gradation and replacement of existing 10KW Medium Wave transmitter at PBC Larkana with modern 100KW MW transmitter is in progress. The 100 KW MW Transmitting Station and Broadcasting House is being established at Turbat and a 100 KW Short Wave transmitter has been put on air from Islamabad for the converge of Azad & Indian held Kashmir.

           With the establishment of FM radio station at Bhit Shah, largest FM-93 network comprising 22 stations and the first English channel “Planet FM-94, Radio Pakistan has been able to win back its listeners to a great extent.

           Digitalization of speeches and statements of former Prime Ministers Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is a timely action towards preservation of history.

PAKISTAN TELEVISION

            PTV is a self sustaining organization meeting all its operating requirements through generation of its own revenues. Although electronic media has been opened to private sector, which has created competitive scenario, but PTV still endeavoring to retain its position on the basis of terrestrial strength and family viewing contents.

            On the operational side, PTV has enhanced its transmission up to seven (07) channels with the logos of PTV-HOME, PTV-NEWS, PTV NATIONAL, PTV BOLAN, AJK TV, PTV GLOBAL and PTV SPORTS.

Special project under the title of “Media for Peace” has been launched to address the topics like “between ignorance & extremism” from protest to engagement.

To combat the menace of terrorism under special programe series entitled Karwan-e-Aman Programes like “Sofi Souls, Sufi Rang, Khuda Zameen Sey Gaya Nahi, Koun, Faseel Jan sey Aagay, were produced and telecast.

Special marathon transmission “Life Line” for the IDPs of terrorism affected areas was launched. The transmission included testimonial transmission programes, special live coverage for the IDPs camps for collection of donations etc.

Special Programes and documentaries have been produced and televised on the life, philosophy and political struggle of Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto under the titles:

·         Shaheed Z.A Bhutto Tehriron Kay Aaeenay Main

·         (Book Review)

·         Nazar-e-Bhutto Shaheed (Special Mushaira)

·         Bhutto’s Lectures

·         Jaras-e-Gul Ki Sada

·         Geet Teray naam (Special song)

·         Mazhamati Adab

·         Bhutto Shanasai Quiz

·         Quaid-e-Awam Bhutto Shaheed (Documentary)

·         Wo Raat

·         Kis Say Munsafi Chahain

·         Bandiwan (Special Play)

Special programes/documentaries have also been produced and telecasted on the life and political struggle of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto under the titles:

·         Shaheed Bibi (Documentary)

·         Shaheed ki jo maut hai

·         Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Ki Shakhsiat Aur

Siasi Kirdar per mabni Khasoosi programe

·         Bibi Benazir (Documentary)

·         Special song on Benazir

·         Hum Hain Benazir (Spl. Quiz)

·         Bemisal (Documentary)

Progress on various PSDP projects of Re-broadcast Stations is as under:-

COMPLETED RBSs.

UNDER COMPLETION PROJECTS

PAKISTAN ELECTRONIC MEDIA REGULATORY AUTHORITY (PEMRA)

PEMRA is mandated for regulating the establishment and operation of all broadcast media (satellite TV & FM radios) and distribution services (Cable TV, DTH, IPTV, Mobile TV etc) in Pakistan. Since 2008 its has granted licenses to 53 Satellite TVs 48 FM radio stations, 1,250 Cable TV, 10 landing rights permissions to foreign channels. (DW Pakistan+, Urdu 1 TV, Lights Asia, Ten Sports, Afghan TV, Starlite, Silver Screen, Filmax, CNN,  Warner Brothers TV), 03 Mobile TV and 03 Mobile Audio.

Economic Contributions

• Direct Employment: More-than 200,000 people of diversified skills and qualifications.
• Cumulative investment: ranges approximately upto $ dollar 2.50 billion in the electronic media industry alone.
• Job opportunities for skilled media personnel and journalists, expanding work of media production houses, advertising agencies and proliferation of the performing arts have accommodated about seven million people through indirect employment.