Cabinet defers proposal to increase PTV license fee: Shibli Faraz

ISLAMABAD: Information and Broadcasting Minister Senator Shibli Faraz has said the federal cabinet deferred a proposal to enhance the license fee of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV).

While addressing a press conference after a Cabinet meeting he said the proposal was discussed in the cabinet in wake of financial difficulties being faced by PTV.

He said that the state TV is facing problems in paying pension to its around three thousand pensioners. He said previous governments have brought the PTV to the verge of collapse by making political appointments in the organization.

The minister added that the PTI-led government now required a huge investment in order to rebrand the PTV as the state’s representative and the voice of Pakistan.

The minister further said the restructuring of PTV has been approved and the proposal regarding enhancing PTV license fee has been deferred till next week for detailed deliberations over the matter.

The Minister said the cabinet also lauded  Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision making it compulsory for public office holders to declare their assets to ensure transparency and to increase people’s confidence in their representatives.

Shibli Faraz said the Prime Minister also directed to pay all the outstanding amounts of media houses by next week. Regarding the availability of wheat flour in the market, Faraz said the government has allowed the public and private sectors to import the commodity to avoid any shortage.

He said the Sindh government will be requested to waive off excise duty on import of wheat. The Minister said the cabinet also approved Treasury Single Account Rules 2020, amendments in the Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2020, amendments in Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, and National Health Emergency Response Act 2020.

The Minister said a report regarding Ehsas Emergency Cash Programme was also presented before the cabinet.

The Prime Minister appreciated Special Assistant on Poverty Allocation and Social Protection Dr Sania Nishtar and her entire team for transferring cash assistance to the deserving people in a transparent manner and beyond political consideration, he added.