The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday tabled The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Bill 2013 in provincial assembly.
Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Hussain Babak tabled the bill. In the proposed bill, various amendments were proposed in the already existing press laws like Press and Publication Ordinance 1962 and RPPO 1989.
In the new bill it was proposed that application for Declaration of Newspaper, Magazine, Printing Press, News Agencies and books should be directly submitted with the deputy commissioner.
The deputy commissioner would be bound to complete the procedure within 90 days otherwise the applicant would have the right of commencing publications on expiry of 90 days.
Similarly, in the proposed bill it was suggested that the declaration could be transferred only to blood relatives and no one would be allowed to indulge in sale and purchase of the declaration.
The declaration holders or owners would be bound to pay Rs 20,000 as renewal fee otherwise the declaration could be considered null and void on failure.
Babak also introduced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Statistics Bill 2013, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) Bill 2013 and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Minimum Wages for Labourers Bill 2013.
The provincial education minister also introduced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill 2013 in the house.