ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage on Monday approved the government bill titled ‘The Right of Access to Information Bill, 2017’ referred by the House to the committee.
The meeting chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha appreciated the contributions of Senator Farhatullah Babar and his sub-committee and State Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage (IBNH) Marriyum Aurangzeb in finalisation of the bill.
The meeting was attended by Farhatullah Babar, Nehal Hashmi, Rubina Khalid, Khawaja Karim, Dr Ashok Kumar and Sussui Palejo.
Senator Babar said the bill prepared by the government was in fact improved version of the bill prepared by the IBNH committee and the impression given by the section of the press that the changes were not correct.
Appreciating Law Division for improving the language of the bill, Kamil Ali Agha said the credit for its finalisation goes to both the committee and the government.
Discussing the journalists’ welfare bill, the committee asked the government to present its draft within 15 days, otherwise, the committee itself would prepare its draft and for this purpose, a sub-committee would be constituted.
IBNH Secretary Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera said the government wants early finalisation of the bill and consultation with all stake holders is being done for this purpose.
The committee expressed its concern over the violation of Ramzan sanctity by a section of the electronic media.
Nehal Hashmi said by watching such programmes, the new generation would think that Ramzan was a festival only.
Mushahidullah said some channels were working on the agenda to defame Islam.
IBNH Secretary Sukhera said the issue has been taken seriously and the ministry and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) have prepared a guideline and three television channels have been issued show cause notices at the night of first Ramzan for violation of this guideline.
The committee was given a presentation about the budgetary allocations for the current financial year for IBNH and National History and Literacy Division.
