The Standing Committee of the National Assembly has asked the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) for the establishment of its board of governors at the earliest, increase the monthly stipend given to the writer by the PAL from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 and to take necessary steps for promoting the literature in the country.
The committee also recommended for the introduction of e-books instead of publication of book. The committee demanded for the provision of list of employees/staffs working in PAL province wise.
The 16th meeting of the Standing Committee on Information was held Tuesday presided over by Standing Committee Chairperson MNA Marvi Memon.
The Standing Committee was briefed about the working and performance of PAL and Federal Department of Archaeology & Museum, attached department of Ministry of Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage.
The Federal Department of Archaeology and Museum director general told the committee that after 18th Amendment, the cabinet issued Notification which stated that among others retained under Federal level functions i.e. the archaeology, national museums and historical monuments declared to be of national importance and the federal agency which perform these functions i.e. The Department of Archaeology and Museums. However, the said notification of the Cabinet was not implemented yet. The committee directed the ministry to resolve this issue in consultation with the Ministry of Law, Justice & Human Rights in accordance with Notification as soon as possible.
Tahir Iqbal, Muhammad Tallal Chaudry, Parveen Masood Bhatti, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Syed Amir Ali Shah Jamote, Imran Zafar Leghari and Naeema Kishwer Khan, MNAs attended the meeting. The meeting was also attended by the senior Officers of Ministry of Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage and its attached departments.