On February 11, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment of Ambreen Jan as the new chairperson for the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). This decision follows a recommendation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had earlier forwarded her nomination to the President after a parliamentary committee’s endorsement.

Jan, a former Information Secretary, steps into the role previously held by Mohammad Saleem Baig, who retired last year. This appointment marks her as the first female to lead the electronic media regulatory body.

The process began with a parliamentary committee, led by Shehbaz Babar, which convened to select a new head for PEMRA. After a thorough review, the committee unanimously recommended Jan for the position. The Prime Minister subsequently endorsed this recommendation and submitted a summary to President Zardari, who gave his final approval.

Jan’s extensive background in public service includes positions such as Managing Director of the state broadcaster PTV, Director General of Radio Pakistan, and Press Counsellor to Bangladesh during a period of strained relations from 2011 to 2018. Her experience was deemed superior among other candidates, including Brigadier (retd.) Anwar Ahmed, Mateen Haider, Irfan Ashraf, and Dr. Hamid Khan, who were also considered for the role.