The National Assembly on Monday approved
over Rs. 4.2 billion demands for grants for Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting while rejecting cut motions moved by PML-N
parliamentarians. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan responding to the views of the movers of cut motions said that secret funds are used for the welfare and rehabilitation of media persons and not for any personnel projection.
She said that law of secret funds was not new as it had been functional for last 60 years and its audit was also conducted.
“If someone has objection they must bring changes to this law, we won’t have any objection,” she asserted.
The Minister said that the government believes in freedom of expression and gave due rights to the media entities without imposing any restriction or halting advertisements.
She said that those who are speaking on secret funds should first recall the history and check that who used the funds in 1993, during the Nawaz government, for personal projection.
She said that if someone has evidence that the sitting government has used them at any time for personal projection they should pin point it instead of indulging in blame game. “We are accountable to the House, masses and opposition,” she maintained.
She said that if Chief Minister Punjab can pay million of rupees under the head of advertisements to APNS and print media and it is justified then why the federal ministry of information is being targeted for doing so.
Dr. Firdous said that performance of PTV, Radio and other attached departments of the Ministry of Information have been improved and would further be improved for image building of the country and promotion of cultural values.
She said that since the PEMRA was getting a little money under the head of demands of grants so it would be unreasonable to discuss it. However, she said that PEMRA being a regulator has to play an affective role.
She said if PEMRA serves notice to any channel for violating rules, the opposition supports that channel. In such situation how PEMRA could play its role as a regulator, she questioned.
The Minister said that the opposition is supposed to hold the government accountable but unfortunately they always try to take political mileage by distorting facts.
She said media policy is vibrant enough today as the government is facing strongest criticism, adding the government wants to strengthen media for better image building of the country.
She said that the previous governments used payment against the advertisements as a blackmailing tool to make the media hostage for their own personal interests.
She said the incumbent government on the directives of Prime Minister constituted a committee to resolve the issue of payment of pending bills to print media, adding that Rs. 350 million bills have been forwarded to AGPR for payment.
“If someone has objection they must bring changes to this law, we won’t have any objection,” she asserted.
The Minister said that the government believes in freedom of expression and gave due rights to the media entities without imposing any restriction or halting advertisements.
She said that those who are speaking on secret funds should first recall the history and check that who used the funds in 1993, during the Nawaz government, for personal projection.
She said that if someone has evidence that the sitting government has used them at any time for personal projection they should pin point it instead of indulging in blame game. “We are accountable to the House, masses and opposition,” she maintained.
She said that if Chief Minister Punjab can pay million of rupees under the head of advertisements to APNS and print media and it is justified then why the federal ministry of information is being targeted for doing so.
Dr. Firdous said that performance of PTV, Radio and other attached departments of the Ministry of Information have been improved and would further be improved for image building of the country and promotion of cultural values.
She said that since the PEMRA was getting a little money under the head of demands of grants so it would be unreasonable to discuss it. However, she said that PEMRA being a regulator has to play an affective role.
She said if PEMRA serves notice to any channel for violating rules, the opposition supports that channel. In such situation how PEMRA could play its role as a regulator, she questioned.
The Minister said that the opposition is supposed to hold the government accountable but unfortunately they always try to take political mileage by distorting facts.
She said media policy is vibrant enough today as the government is facing strongest criticism, adding the government wants to strengthen media for better image building of the country.
She said that the previous governments used payment against the advertisements as a blackmailing tool to make the media hostage for their own personal interests.
She said the incumbent government on the directives of Prime Minister constituted a committee to resolve the issue of payment of pending bills to print media, adding that Rs. 350 million bills have been forwarded to AGPR for payment.
Earlier, Ahsan Iqbal criticized the government and alleged that secret funds were being used by the government for personal projection.
He further said that the government should produce the details of Rs. 3 billion secret funds. He recommended that cyber wing should be activated to counter international propaganda against the country.
Nuzhat Sadiq said that PIC has to pay billions of rupees under the head of advertisements to the print media.
She recommended that programmes should be devised for promotion of education and cultural values.
Shenaz Salim, Parveen Masood Bhatti and Suriya Asghar also suggested cut in demanded of grants for Ministry of Information that were rejected by the House. APP
