Islamabad: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) amendment bill approved from the senate.
The bill was approved para-wise in the upper house of parliament.
Minister for Information and Technology Marriyum Aurangzaib presented the bill in the Senate. The bill has determined minimum wage of the media workers.
The Senate unanimously passed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Amendment Bill 2023.
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 UN 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.
