By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on Friday expressed strong displeasure over the absence of senior management from Pakistan Television (PTV) Sports, who were scheduled to brief lawmakers on the channel’s revenue portfolio, hiring practices, and salary packages.
The committee, chaired by MNA Pullain Baloch, noted that the meeting had been fixed well in advance and the agenda circulated in a timely manner. Members directed PTV Sports management to ensure their presence in the next sitting and furnish complete details of the channel’s financial performance, recruitment process, and remuneration structures.
Chairman Pullain Baloch reiterated his concern over the absence of PTV Sports management, questioning why they failed to attend despite prior notice. He directed the officials concerned to appear in the next session with full details of revenue, hiring, and salary packages.
Senator Sehar Kamran termed the absence of the PTV Sports in-charge a breach of the National Assembly’s privilege, stressing that officials must respect parliamentary proceedings.
The committee also sought a detailed report from PTV on employees hired and sacked, amid allegations that new recruitments were being made after terminating existing staff.
It observed that merit must be upheld in all employment matters.
Director General of the Information and Public Relations Wing, Ashique Hussain Shaikh, clarified that only employees whose contracts had expired had been laid off.
Members of the committee stressed that PTV must be made self-sufficient and profitable to reduce reliance on government grants. They emphasized the need for reforms to strengthen the national broadcaster’s financial sustainability.
MNA Amin ul Haq urged PTV management to adopt modern broadcasting techniques and ensure balanced coverage in order to effectively compete with private channels. He said such measures were essential to make the state-run channel commercially viable. Chairman Pullain Baloch constituted a sub-committee to examine issues related to Pakistan Television (PTV) and propose solutions.
The Committee was informed that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has appointed liquidators to oversee the layoff of 280 employees of Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company Limited (SRBC).
Liquidators, Atif Saeed and Imran Afzal told the committee that they had been tasked with completing the downsizing process. They cautioned, however, that if the government failed to present a viable revival plan before the IHC, the court could order the termination of all 280 employees.
The committee also discussed the issue of pending salaries and pensions of serving and retired SRBC staff, underscoring the urgency of a sustainable solution to safeguard workers’ rights and ensure the company’s revival.
Liquidators for Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company Limited (SRBC) told the Committee that they would welcome a viable revival plan, as they were reluctant to terminate the services of 280 employees.
Briefing the committee, SRBC Managing Director Saleem said a multipronged strategy had been devised to revive the company, adding that the federal government was making efforts to avoid closure. He emphasized that SRBC intended to retain its workforce of 280 employees.
The Managing Director of Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company Limited (SRBC) informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting that the company was burdened with liabilities amounting to Rs 2.31 billion.
The Managing Director revealed that the Finance Division had been approached for a bailout package. He explained that once liabilities were cleared, the SRBC intended to generate revenue by selling airtime on A TV.
However, he cautioned that if the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the company’s closure, employees’ dues would be settled through the auctioning of SRBC’s properties.
The committee, however, urged the court to adopt a lenient approach to prevent the layoff of 280 employees and safeguard their livelihoods.
The meeting was attended by Nadeem Abbas, Kiran Haider, Shaheen, Romina Khurshid Alam, Sehar Kamran, Syed Amin Ul Haque, Rana Ansar, Asia Naz Tanoli, Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri.
