Senate of Pakistan & National Assembly approve PEMRA Amendment Bill 2023
It was moved by Minister for Information & Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb
Marriyum Aurangzeb says input of all stakeholders has been taken to bring amendments in the PEMRA Amendment Bill 2023
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
The Senate of Pakistan and National Assembly on Wednesday passed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Amendment Bill 2023. First the bill was tabled in Senate and later on it was tabled in the National Assembly.
It was moved by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb who stated the bill was prepared after consultations with the journalists’ bodies.
She said the definition of misinformation and disinformation in the bill is in accordance with the United Nations human rights council and twelve countries.
The Minister said it is aimed at protecting the rights of working journalists, regretting that a deliberate attempt was made to make it controversial.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said the government, under the bill, will not give ads to the media outlets which do not clear the dues of media workers in two months.
The Information Minister recalled the parties in the coalition government have waged a struggle for freedom of expression.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told the House a delegation of journalists met the Prime Minister yesterday describing the bill a milestone for the journalist community.
He said the Prime Minister after talks with the journalists, gave the direction to get the bill approved.
The House also passed three other bills. These included the Federal Prosecution Service Bill, the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Amendment Bill, 2023 and the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Bill, 2023.
Other bills passed by the house today included Askari Institute of Higher Education Bill, 2023, the Metropolitan International Institute of Science and Technology bill, 2023, the Mufti Azam, Islamic University, Islamabad bill, 2023, the Islamabad University of Health Sciences and Emerging Technologies Islamabad Bill, 2023, the International Islamic Institute for Peace, bill 2023, the Kalam Bibi International Women Institute Bannu Amendment Bill, 2023, the Rahim Jan University bill, 2023 and the Akhuwat Institute Kasur Bill, 2023. Later, the House was prorogued.
Meanwhile Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb says input of all stakeholders has been taken to bring amendments in the PEMRA Amendment Bill.
Talking to media outside the Parliament in Islamabad on Wednesday, Marriyum Aurangzeb said bringing amendment in the PEMRA Bill will not only ensure the devolution of power, but it will also ensure the freedom of expression.
Highlighting the features of PEMRA Amendment Bill 2023, the Minister said it will make sure the financial security of media workers as government will not give businesses to those media houses that will not pay the dues to journalists for consecutive two months.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said under this Bill, four million rupees will be given to the heirs of the journalists, died while performing duties. She said the issue of misinformation will be addressed greatly under this bill.
The Minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already launched the Health Insurance Cards scheme for the protection of journalists.