PBC’s income to be raised through marketing, Senate told

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ISLAMABAD: The Senate was informed on Tuesday that a plan is being executed to raise the income of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) through marketing.

Replying to a question during the Questions Hour, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb told the house that for the first time, marketing of Radio Pakistan’s (RP) channels has been undertaken. She said that the government provides a subsidy to state broadcasters like elsewhere in the world.

However, they should be financially self-reliant, he added.

The minister also said that Radio Pakistan earned over Rs15.87 billion during the last four years, while the total expenditure during this period was over Rs16.41 billion. She added that formal approval of a summary to get financial assistance for RP and PTV under EOBI will be taken from the prime minister.

Responding to another question, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that significant improvement can be witnessed in Pakistan Railways due to prudent policies of the government.

He said that 145 new locomotives have been included to the railways fleet, whereas the railways have 468 engines and 1,820 bogies right now. He further said that 377 passenger coaches were also included from 2002 to 2014 in the railways fleet.