ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting has unanimously approved a bill to take steps to ensure special people’s access to the media.
Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, who has proposed “The Access to Media (Deaf and Dumb) Persons Bill, 2022”, gave a detailed briefing to the committee chaired by Senator Faisal Javed on Wednesday.
Mandviwalla said the word “stupid” was removed from the bill because some committee members had expressed reservations about it.
He pointed to the growing sense of alienation among special people who could not watch dramas and listen to news on TV channels.
The senator sought the support of the Ministry of Information and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to implement the bill once it becomes law after approval by relevant bodies.
The Information Secretary and President of PEMRA expressed no reservations about the bill and pledged full support for its implementation.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) briefed the panel on the issue raised by Senator Irfan ul Haque Siddiqui regarding the felling of trees at the premises of Radio Pakistan, Rawalpindi.
He presented the report on the matter which was rejected by Senator Irfan who urged the committee to investigate the felling of the trees.
The Senator asked DG PBC to share full details including market value, types and number of trees that were felled at the premises of Radio Pakistan, Rawalpindi.
Senator Javed has summoned officials from the Environmental Protection Agency and relevant departments in Punjab to the next meeting so that the matter can be discussed.
The committee was also informed of the measures taken against certain journalists and presenters.
The president spoke out against the case and ordered the departments concerned to apply the law on the protection of journalists in letter and in spirit.
He also ordered the Ministry of Information to submit details of advertisements given to electronic and print media during the tenures of the various governments.
