ISLAMABAD – Minister of Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussainsays government will establish a new media regulatory authority byabolishing the existing Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority(PEMRA).
Addressing the Senate’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcastingin Islamabad on Thursday, he said the Ministry of Information has prepareda draft law in this regard which has been sent to all stakeholders tosolicit their recommendations.
The Minister said the government will regulate all media and no one will beable to defame anyone under the new law.
Chairman of the Standing Committee, Faisal Javed said the government willnot allow gagging of free media. He said media is always free in ademocratic set up.
The Chairman said no action was taken by PEMRA when a fake news wasbroadcast on a TV channel regarding Minister of State for Interior ShehryarKhan Afridi.
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Secretary Information told the meeting that in future television ads willbe allowed to run on TV after the approval of Information Ministry.
He said an overseeing committee headed by Minister for Information has beenset up for supervising the content of advertisements.