ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has accorded his approval to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Amendment Bill 2023.
The president approved the bill under Article 75 of the Constitution of Pakistan, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release.
Earlier, he gave this assurance while talking to a delegation of representatives of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND), who called on him in Islamabad today.
The President appreciated the collective efforts of the media community for introducing amendments to the PEMRA law, especially to protect the rights of media workers. He said that the linking of government advertisements with the payment of dues to electronic media employees would help address their issues.
صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کی پیمرا (ترمیمی) بل 2023ء پر حمایت کی یقین دہانی
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 15, 2023
صدر مملکت سے پی ایف یو جے، اے پی این ایس، پی بی اے، سی پی این ای اور ایمنڈ کے نمائندوں کی ملاقات
صدر مملکت نے ملاقات میں میڈیا ورکرز ، صحافی برادری کو پیمرا ترمیمی بل پر اپنی حمایت کا یقین دلایا pic.twitter.com/CeWyi2WQxM
Dr Arif Alvi remarked that the media, especially senior journalists, should enhance linkages with academia and universities to guide and educate students about fake news and the new developments taking place in the field of journalism.
He said dynamics of new forms of media, especially social media, should be understood adding that it is the responsibility of media to educate the people on morality and the use of social media in a responsible and constructive manner.
President Dr. Arif Alvi had a meeting with the representatives of PFUJ, APNS, PBA, CPNE and AEMEND. pic.twitter.com/izjUNV6jZk
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 15, 2023
The delegation briefed the President about various provisions of the new bill that would benefit the journalist community as well as media employees. The delegation thanked the President for his support and for taking interest in addressing the issues faced by the media community.
The delegation comprised Afzal Butt, Arshad Ansari, Naz Afreen Saigol, Sarmad Ali, Shahab Zuberi, Shakeel Masud, Ijaz ul Haq, Kazim Khan, Ayaz Khan, and Azhar Abbas.
