No media curbs being planned by government, says Firdous

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Wednesday contradicted reports about media curbs being planned by the PPP-led coalition government, saying that the government was in touch with all the quarters concerned and their suggestions would be considered before formulating any policy, law or regulation. “I want to totally dispel the impression that the government has any intention to curb on media,” said the minister while addressing a joint press conference along with PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat at the PID media centre. The minister said the government believed in freedom of expression and did not intend to impose curbs on media. “The government wants to strengthen and empower the media by making code of conduct in consultation with all the stakeholders.”
She said the proposed draft of regulation content would be shared with the civil society, the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and the general public, which would also be displayed on PEMRA’s website for suggestions and recommendations. She also said the imposition of two percent tax on mobile phone cards and Rs 40,000 to 50,000 on purchase of new vehicle as licence fee for radio would be made only after consulting all the stakeholders. Responding to the queries of reporters, Firdous said both the proposals for radio tax imposition were actually recommendations of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, which would be referred to the Finance Ministry for approval and the ministry would decide the matter.
However, the minister defended the committee’s decision about radio tax arguing that if a person was capable to purchase a new vehicle worth Rs 2.5 million, paying one-time radio tax should not be a problem for him.
“This is the decision by all political parties as they have their representation in the standing committees of the Senate and the National Assembly on information,” she said. Asked who would be the new Senate chairman, the minister did not confirm the name of new chairman Senate but said that the Senate chairman would be elected soon. Hailing the unanimous passage of Industrial Relations Bill 2012 from the Senate, the minister termed it a land mark achievement of the government which would become an act after its approval from the National Assembly. She said protection of the rights of labourers was part of the PPP’s manifesto and the legislation would go a long way in protecting the rights of labour community.
The minister said after assuming power, the PPP-led coalition government had abolished the anti-labour IRO 2002 and introduced his new bill to protect the rights of labour after the devolution of the Labour Ministry to provinces. Asked about lifting ban on students unions, the minister said after passage of the 18th Amendment, education had become a provincial subject and so the matter could now be raised at the Council of Common Interest (CCI). However, she said the PPP believed that student unions were nursery of political leaders.