Islamabad, February 06,
2009: The Federal Minister
for Information and Broadcasting
Ms Sherry Rehman has announced
the retirement of all
outstanding dues against
the PTV, making the state
broadcast network a 'debt-free'
institution.
The outstanding debt
against the PTV amounting
to Rs 443mn was returned
in a ceremony held at
the PTV Headquarters in
Islamabad today.
Describing it as an "important
achievement", the
Federal Information Minister
Ms Sherry Rehman praised
the efforts of the Managing
Direction PTV for putting
the organisation on the
track of financial stability.
The outstanding loans
of the national network
were cleared in a matter
of two months since the
new management took charge
in Dec 2008.
Ms Sherry Rehman pointed
out that these loans were
cleared by way of better
financial management,
improved recoveries, enhanced
revenue and implementation
of effective cost control
measures pursued by the
PTV management at all
levels. "The PTV
was paying huge mark up
against these loans and
their repayment will result
in substantial savings."
The Federal Information
Minister said that PTV's
financial independence
is a critical factor for
quality programming. "Public
service is the prime goal
of the state broadcast,
and it is important for
an organisation to be
free of financial constraints
to deliver on this objective.
Following our Government's
agenda for free media
environment, we place
high priority on the editorial
independence of the PTV.
We have always maintained
that the PTV should be
a platform that should
give space and representation
to diverse opinions and
ideologies and should
advocate the values of
plurality and impartiality
in its content."
The Federal Minister
for Information blamed
the narrow-sighted policies
of the earlier management
that resulted in the accumulation
of the outstanding dues
of nearly half a billion
rupees against the PTV.
"The fact that we
were able to retire the
debt in less than a year
since we have taken office
reflects our commitment
to build all state institutions
on solid foundations.
Our government is equally
focused on other state
institutions that were
damaged by the vested
interests of the earlier
regime. We are committed
to rebuild them and to
enable them to make positive
contribution to our national
development."
The Information Minister
also noted the improved
ranking of the PTV-Home
and directed the PTV to
follow high standards
in content, and production
values for programming.
Ms Sherry Rehman stressed
the state broadcast's
role in the information
era dominated by private
enterprises. "There
are varied arguments regarding
the relevance of the state
broadcast outlets in the
information environment
where private media stand
strong on the back of
commercial sponsors. We
believe that public interest
is best served by a media
that is free from financial
constraints. Our emphasis
on the editorial independence
and commercial viability
of the PTV and other state
communication outlets
comes from our belief
that they have an important
role in delivering content
that is centred on the
principles of public interest.
The Pakistan Peoples Party
Government will continue
to support a free media
environment for the cause
of democracy in the country."