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Minister muted: PTV boss snubs Information Minister
Dr Firdous Awan claims Yousaf Baif Mirza is hindering reform of state-run broadcaster. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: The Managing Director of Pakistan Television, Yousaf Baig Mirza, has refused to brief Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on the affairs of the state-run broadcaster.
Awan complained about the issue to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilnai in the National Assembly, after coming under fire from colleagues on both benches regarding outdated programmes being broadcast on PTV.
“He [Mirza] is a major stumbling block in modernising PTV for meeting the public’s demands,” Awan said. “I’m supposed to address lawmakers’ concerns. But I cannot, as the MD does not listen to me.”
The PM seemed taken aback when Awan posed a direct question on the house floor: “Who is Mirza answerable to?”
Gilani promptly responded to her concerns and said that the PTV MD is obliged to brief parliamentarians on the affairs of the state-run broadcaster. “You [Awan] are his boss because you are the information minister,” Gilani said.
Gilani added that he had empowered ministers in his cabinet to solve all issues which fall within their departments. He asked Awan to meet him in her official capacity to resolve the problems with PTV.
Lawmakers came to know of the information minister’s strained relationship with the PTV MD when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Tasneem Siddiqui asked if there was any proposal under consideration to telecast new programmes on PTV and Radio Pakistan.
To modernise state-run television, Siddiqui said, PTV must get to grips with the latest technology and state-of-the-art graphics systems. During the question-answer hour session, Awami National Party MNA Bushra Gohar claimed that many overseas Pakistanis believe PTV only telecasts the activities of the information minister, quoting Pakistanis living in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The government also plans to launch a sports channel, Awan informed the house on Friday.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2011
Minister muted: PTV boss snubs Information Minister – The Express Tribune
Dr Firdous Awan claims Yousaf Baif Mirza is hindering reform of state-run broadcaster. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: The Managing Director of Pakistan Television, Yousaf Baig Mirza, has refused to brief Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on the affairs of the state-run broadcaster.
Awan complained about the issue to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilnai in the National Assembly, after coming under fire from colleagues on both benches regarding outdated programmes being broadcast on PTV.
“He [Mirza] is a major stumbling block in modernising PTV for meeting the public’s demands,” Awan said. “I’m supposed to address lawmakers’ concerns. But I cannot, as the MD does not listen to me.”
The PM seemed taken aback when Awan posed a direct question on the house floor: “Who is Mirza answerable to?”
Gilani promptly responded to her concerns and said that the PTV MD is obliged to brief parliamentarians on the affairs of the state-run broadcaster. “You [Awan] are his boss because you are the information minister,” Gilani said.
Gilani added that he had empowered ministers in his cabinet to solve all issues which fall within their departments. He asked Awan to meet him in her official capacity to resolve the problems with PTV.
Lawmakers came to know of the information minister’s strained relationship with the PTV MD when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Tasneem Siddiqui asked if there was any proposal under consideration to telecast new programmes on PTV and Radio Pakistan.
To modernise state-run television, Siddiqui said, PTV must get to grips with the latest technology and state-of-the-art graphics systems. During the question-answer hour session, Awami National Party MNA Bushra Gohar claimed that many overseas Pakistanis believe PTV only telecasts the activities of the information minister, quoting Pakistanis living in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The government also plans to launch a sports channel, Awan informed the house on Friday.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2011
Minister muted: PTV boss snubs Information Minister – The Express Tribune
