National Assembly passes Pemra, Press Council Amendment Bills

The National Assembly Wednesday gave approval to two crucial pieces of legislation, namely the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Press Council of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

The National Assembly in total passed five government and seven private members’ bills considered as supplementary agenda.

Moved by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Maryam Aurangzeb, the House passed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 along with amendments having the prime objective to benefit journalists and foster a free and responsible media environment.

Additionally, the minister introduced the Press Council of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2023, advocating for the replacement of the term “Government” with the phrase “secretary of the division to which business of the council stands allocated” in section 8, in sub-section (1), in clause (xiii) of the Press Council of Pakistan Ordinance, 2002 (XCVII of 2002).

Both bills underwent a thorough examination by the Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, and following presentation of reports on them, they were presented for the third reading and subsequently gained the approval of the House. These developments mark a significant stride towards enhancing the media landscape while upholding transparency and responsibility.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting moved amendments in the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which were passed by the House.

She proposed an amendment in clause 2, after paragraph (iii), the following new paragraph (iv) shall be added, namely:- “(iv) after proposed clause (v), the following new clause shall be added namely (vi) ensure fair, transparent and independent rating to the broadcasters for their TV channels.”

She also proposed that after clause 3, the following new clause 3A shall be added namely.-“3A. Amendment of Section 4, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance, in section 4, after sub-section (3), the following new sub-section shall be added, namely.- “(4) The Authority by registering rating companies shall ensure that a fair, transparent, and independent forums shall issue rating to the licensees’’.

She suggested substituting clause 8 of the bill as reporting by the standing committee by following. “ 8. Amendment of Section 20, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance in Section 20 “ (a) in clause (e), the expression “ and such content will be in addition to preamble and the licensee will also submit an annual compliance report to the is effect or as and when required by the Authority;” shall be added at the end; and (b) after clause (i), for the full stop, at the end, a semi colon shall be substituted and thereafter the following new clauses shall be added, namely:- (j) not air disinformation; (k) ensure that during a regular programme a continuous break for advertising shall not exceed for five minutes and duration between two such successive breaks shall not be less than ten minutes; and (l) ensure that content of all channel available on electronic media, including logo and name, etc. shall not vary, alter, substitute, tempered on digital media or any other similar forum”.

Another amendment moved by the minister was in clause 11. It suggests that in proposed section 26, after sub-section (11), the following new sub-section (12) shall be added, namely: (12) Each Council shall compile and submit the annual report of license regarding the compliance of Code of Conduct to the Authority”.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi moved the Gas (Theft Control and Recovery) (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which was passed by the House.

Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri moved the Zakat and Ushr (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Apostille Bill, 2023 which were passed by the House.

The House passed a motion to refer the Trade Organization Bill, 2023 to the joint sitting of Parliament.

A report of the Standing Committee on Interior on the Federal Prosecution Service Bill, 2023 was presented in the House.

The House also took up private members’ agenda after passing a motion and approved seven private members’ bills which were the Akhuwat Institute Kasur Bill, 2023; the Quaid-e-Azam Institute of Management Sciences, Sargodha Bill, 2023; the Islamabad University of Health Sciences and Emerging Technologies, Islamabad Bill, 2023; the Falcon University of Sciences and Technology Bill, 2023; the King’s Institute of Higher Education Bill, 2023; the Monarch Institute Bill, 2023 and the Public Institute of Science, Arts and Technology Bill, 2023.