ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Television (PTV) channel dedicated to covering National Assembly sessions and meetings of its standing committees will be ready in around four months, Information Secretary Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera told a parliamentary body on Thursday.

“The annual development programme (ADP) has already approved proposals regarding PTV Parliament, and it will be up and running within four months after the budget,” Mr Sukhera told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting.

He added that a PC-I has been established for a PTV kids channel, and work to make it operational is in process. The standing committee met on Thursday for a briefing on the progress on both channels.

According to Mr Sukhera, PTV Parliament will be operated as a special project, similar to Azad Jammu and Kashmir Television.

He said it would take time to develop a new team, decide timings and develop content for PTV Kids, in order to make the channel a learning platform for children of all ages.

The committee’s discussion shifted towards Indian content on television, while one committee member suggested the children’s channel should emphasise history and indigenous culture.

Another MNA argued that Indian content dominates private channels, while local productions suffered.

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb responded by saying that Pakistani content is not shown in India, and Pakistan should reciprocate.

“The standing committee can direct the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to take necessary action. Pemra can also be asked not to air more Indian programmes than allowed under law,” Ms Aurangzeb said.

She also briefed the committee on the ministry’s new film and culture policy, which includes proposed exemptions of income tax for artists and of import duties and sales tax on filmmaking equipment to encourage independent filmmakers.

“In the 1960s, Pakistan was the third largest filmmaking country. The quality of Pakistani films deteriorated, mainly because of the denial of state patronage. Terrorism hit the film industry the worst. But like China, Turkey and Iran and other countries, Pakistan will win the perception war through the revival of its cinema,” she said.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2018