President Dr Arif Alvi Signs Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Amendment Bill, 2023
Key Highlights :
The President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, has signed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Amendment Bill, 2023, in accordance with Article 75 of the Constitution. This bill was approved by both Houses of Parliament after the federal government withdrew it in response to the concerns of journalist associations.
The bill has made changes to the PEMRA regulations, including the formation of a parliamentary committee for the appointment of the PEMRA chairman. The Ministry of Information will propose five names for the media regulatory body chief, and the committee will send a name for the PEMRA chief to the President for appointment. The bill has also replaced the word salary for media workers with dues.
President Dr Arif Alvi has expressed his support for the PEMRA Amendment Bill 2023 when speaking 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). He appreciated the collective efforts of the media community for introducing amendments to the PEMRA law, especially to protect the rights of media workers.
The new PEMRA Amendment Bill is a major step in the right direction for the Pakistani media industry. It will ensure that the PEMRA chairman is appointed in a fair and transparent manner and that media workers are provided with the proper compensation for their work. The President's support for the bill is a sign of his commitment to protecting the rights of media workers and promoting a free and independent media in Pakistan.
