A meeting of the National Assembly Sub-Committee of the Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting was held on April 15, under the chairmanship of Member National Assembly (MNA) Mehtab Akbar Rashdi to discuss the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and to consult stakeholders on developing a code of conduct for the entertainment and advertising sectors.
The committee focused on reviewing the private member’s bill, moved by MNA Asia Naz Tanoli, and engaging relevant stakeholders and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to develop a code of conduct for the advertising and entertainment sectors.
The meeting was attended by MNA Sharmila Faruqui, MNA Muhammad Miqdad Ali Khan, MNA Kiran Imran Dar, and the bill’s mover, MNA Asia Naz Tanoli. Representatives from PEMRA and other key stakeholders, such as the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and the Pakistan Advertisers Association (PAA), were also present.
During the meeting, it was agreed that pre-censorship would be detrimental to the creativity and interests of the entertainment industry and stakeholders expressed concerns that PEMRA regulations were strict and hindered the media sector’s growth.
The participants assured the committee of their commitment to social and moral obligations noting that channels have in-house committees to evaluate content before it is aired. Stakeholders shared that the Council of Complaints already included journalists and the PBA, and could include academia, religious scholars, writers, representatives of the social sector and the drama industry.
PEMRA officials argued that pre-censorship of all dramas and adverts was impractical. They noted that creating a pre-censoring board would make the Council of Complaints redundant. PEMRA proposed creating a new committee with representatives from TV channels, PEMRA, and other stakeholders to pre-evaluate content, to be included in the Code of Conduct.
The sub-committee emphasized that media content aired should adhere to ethical standards, align with Islamic teachings, national values, and public morality, and reflect a positive image of Pakistan. They recommended that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to act on these proposals while maintaining the spirit of the proposed bill and urged MNA Asia Naz Tanoli to withdraw her bill.
The sub-committee is set to present its final report to the main committee by the end of April.
Photo Source: National Assembly
