( Minister Tarar is welcome to share his side of the story if he bothers to address this matter and cares to clear his position )
Islamabad, 21 July 2026: MNA Sehar Kamran, Member of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information & Broadcasting, walked out of NA Standing Committee Meeting over what she blamed the Minister’s bad conduct , insulting behaviour towards her that raises serious concerns on Parliamentary oversight and Ministry’s non-compliance.
She strongly emphasized the importance of effective parliamentary oversight during today’s meeting of the Committee and expressed serious concern over procedural irregularities, non-compliance with the Committee’s recommendations, and conduct displayed by Minister for Information & Broadcasting.
At the outset, MNA Sehar Kamran expressed her reservations over the convening of Committee meeting after a gap of nearly five months, noting that the previous meeting had been held in February 2026.
She stated that such prolonged delays undermine one of the Committee’s most fundamental constitutional responsibilities i.e. oversight of the Executive, and stressed that Standing Committee meetings should be convened on a regular basis to ensure accountability and effective parliamentary scrutiny.
She further pointed out that during the Committee meeting held on 2nd January 2026, Ministry had been directed to furnish detailed information regarding Pakistan Television Corporation’s (PTV) proposed business initiatives and revenue-generation plans. However, despite the passage of several months, no such information has been provided to the Committee.
MNA Sehar Kamran also highlighted the longstanding Short Wave Transmitter Project at Landhi, Karachi, which was approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in 2006. She observed that the project has yet to become operational, while no meaningful report has been shared with the Committee despite repeated requests.
She further noted that even a sub-committee had previously been constituted to examine the matter, yet the Committee continues to remain uninformed regarding its status.
Compliance Report on Recommendations of the Previous Meeting
While discussing the compliance report submitted by the Ministry, MNA Sehar Kamran highlighted serious inconsistencies and questioned Ministry’s adherence to the Committee’s recommendations.
She recalled that during the Committee meeting held in February 2026, Committee had recommended 14 PSDP projects of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for the PSDP 2026-27 with a total proposed allocation of Rs. 12.831 billion.
However, she pointed out that the Ministry’s letter dated 6th March 2026, addressed to the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, stated that the enclosed budgetary proposals were those “duly recommended by National Assembly Standing Committee on Information & Broadcasting.”
Contrary to that assertion, the enclosure actually contained 17 projects, including 10 unapproved projects, with a total requested allocation of Rs. 14.427 billion, instead of the 14 projects and Rs. 12.831 billion approved by the Committee. She questioned how the Ministry could alter Committee’s recommendations without its knowledge or approval.
PSDP 2026-27 Projects
While discussing the report regarding inclusion and non-inclusion of PSDP projects in the PSDP 2026-27, MNA Sehar Kamran observed that only two ongoing projects had been included:
National Information Media Archival Repository (NIMAR) with an allocation of Rs. 659.2525 million; and
Revamping of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC) with an allocation of Rs. 2.359 billion.
She noted with concern that no new projects recommended by the Committee had been included in the PSDP, while Ministry had also failed to provide any justification for their exclusion.
Infrastructure, Equipment and Human Resource Assessment
Speaking on the assessment of infrastructure, equipment and human resources of PTV, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Press Information Department (PID) and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), MNA Sehar Kamran expressed concern over the deteriorating state of public media institutions.
She observed that the compliance report itself revealed that although the PTV Academy possesses one studio, it lacks essential production equipment required for professional training.
She further noted that PTV Headquarters and all regional channels continue to operate on obsolete non-fibre communication networks with redundant connectivity arrangements, which are no longer compatible with modern broadcasting standards.
Regarding Press Information Department, she pointed out that the compliance report indicates that the PID Headquarters possesses only one drone camera, which is presently non-functional.
She also sought an explanation regarding the prolonged vacancies in the offices of the Director General, PID Peshawar and Quetta, in addition to numerous vacant posts of various grades in those regional offices. She questioned the reasons behind these longstanding vacancies and the efforts undertaken by the Ministry to fill them.
Minister’s Conduct and Walkout
During the discussion on compliance report, MNA Sehar Kamran raised several substantive questions regarding the Ministry’s implementation of the Committee’s recommendations.
Instead of responding to those concerns, Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting adopted an inappropriate and confrontational tone, and asserting that no further questions could be asked on the compliance report.
MNA Sehar Kamran immediately challenged this assertion and sought clarification as to under which provision of the Rules of Procedure such a restriction existed. She maintained that parliamentary committees are fully empowered to examine compliance reports and seek explanations wherever deficiencies or inconsistencies are identified.
She further observed that the Minister’s conduct and manner of addressing elected Members of Parliament amounted to an attempt to obstruct them from performing their constitutional oversight responsibilities. In view of what she considered to be an unacceptable attitude towards Members of the Committee, MNA Sehar Kamran staged a walkout from the meeting as a mark of protest.
Reservations on Agenda Item Relating to PEMRA
Although MNA Sehar Kamran had already walked out prior to the discussion on Agenda Item No. 3 regarding PEMRA, she expressed following concerns regarding the briefing circulated by the Ministry:
She observed that despite the agenda specifically seeking details regarding the composition of the Councils of Complaints established in Islamabad and Punjab, the briefing merely described their functions while completely omitting the composition of those Councils.
She further noted that the appointment of the Chairperson and five Members each of the Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Councils of Complaints remains pending approval by the Prime Minister’s Office. Likewise, appointment of three Members of the Punjab Council of Complaints is also awaiting approval, whereas summary for the reappointment of the Councils of Complaints for Islamabad and Balochistan has already been approved.
Quatrina Hosain @PTV, Salary Rs 870 K-Credentials to be Checked Later ,PM’s Salary 197 K
Financial Situation of PEMRA
MNA Sehar Kamran also expressed concern over reports indicating that PEMRA is facing financial constraints due to the non-payment of licence fees and other dues by television channels. She noted that these financial difficulties have reportedly resulted in delays of two to three months in the payment of salaries to PEMRA employees and called upon the Authority to clarify the actual financial position and the measures being taken to address the issue.
Strengthening Content Regulation and Cybersecurity
MNA Sehar Kamran observed that the existing PEMRA law contains no provisions for pre-censorship of television programmes or advertisements. Consequently, the Authority remains constrained to intervene only after objectionable content has already been broadcast or a formal complaint has been received.
She suggested that Committee may consider recommending suitable legislative amendments to introduce a carefully regulated pre-censorship mechanism, accompanied by robust legal safeguards, transparency measures and oversight arrangements to prevent misuse of authority or opportunities for corruption.
She also highlighted the growing cybersecurity threats confronting Pakistan’s electronic media sector, particularly in light of recent hacking incidents affecting satellite television channels and their digital platforms.
She recommended that, in addition to requiring regular cybersecurity audits of television channels, PEMRA officials should also receive specialized cybersecurity training to enable them to undertake periodic preliminary inspections and strengthen institutional preparedness against emerging cyber threats.
