‘Goodbye Pemra’: Govt decides to form Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday announced formation of Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA), unifying all previous bodies operating as separate entities to regulate media matters.

During a press talk here, the minister said Press Council and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra)  will be merged to form a single body. He said the new authority will comprise top officials and seasoned experts.

He said PMRA will regulate electronic media, print media and the social media. Chaudhry reiterated that censorship was no more in place in the state-run TV, adding that new changes will soon be witnessed in the PTV.

The minister said a review committee had been formed to look into matters of advertisements being given to media houses. “Previous governments were being run through ads, but this time the mechanism is going to change,” he added.

He said PM Imran Khan made it to Parliament from the first day to respect the legislature of Pakistan.

https://arynews.tv/en/imran-promises-drastic-measures-streamline-economy/

Chaudhry underlined that the government was looking into problems faced by country in a broader perspective.

A week ago, Fawad Chaudhry had said the ‘political censorship’ has been lifted from the state television as “envisioned by Prime Minister Imran Khan to make media in the country free and independent.”

In his tweet, Mr. Chaudhry said: “All political parties and their leaders are getting coverage on PTV #EidAladha activities of opposition leaders also covered by PTV.”

The PTI government has already announced major overhauls in government departments and promised to streamline all institutions.

Giving a road-map of his priorities and policies in his televised address to the nation on Aug 19, PM Imran Khan had said currently there were 524 employees deployed at the PM House, but he would use only two for domestic service.

Imran Khan said he would decline to use the heavy fleet of armoured vehicles except two owing to security threats. He announced to auction rest of the vehicles to support the national kitty.

The prime minister said none of the governors would reside in the governor house and ensure maximum austerity in the chief minister houses of the PTI-led provinces. He said a committee of experts and intellectuals would decide the future use of the governor houses.