The fourth meeting of the Prime Minister’s Steering Committee on the Socio-Political Domain held on May 14 in Islamabad instructed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to ensure that all television channels allocate adequate prime-time slots for broadcasting public service messages.
Chairing the meeting, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that while commercial advertisements occupy significant air time, the space for public awareness campaigns has shrunk, urging strict monitoring by PEMRA to maximize the reach of such messages during prime hours.
“The public service message slots during prime-time are not just for profits; they are an opportunity to prioritize the public good,” Iqbal stressed.
Minister Ahsan Iqbal also directed the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to engage top entertainment production houses to replace typical scripts with inspirational stories that foster societal well-being and uphold positive social values.
The meeting was attended by Finance Ministers from provincial governments, Chairmen of Planning & Development departments, and senior officials from ministries including Law & Justice, Interior & Narcotics, Education, Religious Affairs, Higher Education Commission (HEC), National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), and the Prime Minister’s Youth Program.
