(PPF/IFEX) – In a landmark decision, the government has decided to allow media cross-ownership, enabling owners of newspapers and magazines to own and operate television and radio stations. The cabinet took the decision to amend the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Ordinance on 12 July 2003. Information and Broadcasting Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed said […]
(PPF/IFEX) – In a landmark decision, the government has decided to allow media cross-ownership, enabling owners of newspapers and magazines to own and operate television and radio stations. The cabinet took the decision to amend the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Ordinance on 12 July 2003.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed said the decision to amend the PEMRA Ordinance fulfilled a commitment he had made to newspaper owners.
Rashid said 10 new satellite television channels would be immediately allowed under the PEMRA Ordinance. The government-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) will also set up three new satellite channels: Home-PTV, PTV-Sports and a channel for the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Rashid said Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali emphasised the need for a diversity of media ownership, without restricting the owners of any media outlet from owning or operating another. He added that the prime minister said the government would continue to liberalise the state-owned electronic media and encourage the dissemination of the full range of viewpoints in a healthy and responsible manner.
