Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Category: Terms of Reference No. A

New and alternative names for Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

The Commission recommends that in order to reflect a re-structured Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, new and alternative names are also considered for this Ministry. (i) The traditional association of the title : “Ministry of Information and Broadcasting” with the production of propaganda for the Government of-the-day is so strongly identified with a one-sided, power-centric dimension that it would be appropriate to consider alternative names. (ii) Further, the term “Broadcasting” has long become redundant because its original application was to the dissemination of radio content. Whereas with the advent of television, “telecasting” became the more accurate term to cover the

Read more

Substantive reform of Federal and Provincial Information Ministries

The Commission concludes that the Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the four Provincial Departments of Information require substantive re-structuring by which:- i. certain departments and functions should be either abolished, or significantly reformed, in order to ensure that the continued functioning of this institutional framework does not impede or obstruct the fulfilment of rights guaranteed by Article 19; For instance, there should be horizontal de-centralization and decontrol in the selection of advertising agencies and selection of media for advertising by Government entities to replace the existing centralized system with a new accountable, monitored autonomy-based framework. ii. due consideration

Read more

Converged a wide range of Media and Systems

The unprecedented relationship between information and the people symbolized by the emergence of the cell-phone as a compact hand-held device have converged a wide range of media and systems. These include the telephone, the camera, the computer, the satellite, the internet, battery-powered illumination, email, cinema, TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, books, social media such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc. Such a phenomenon brings forth unparalleled challenges of change as well as an inescapable responsibility for the State. It is the State system alone which has the legitimacy and the locus stand to maintain vigilance for the protection of the public interest,

Read more

Recommendations by the Commission regarding TOR No. A

The following Recommendations have been arrived at after the Findings, Observations and Summaries as recorded in the preceding text of this Section of the Report which deals with TOR No. A: 1. The Commission is of the view that the scope and the scale of information, the detail and speed with which information is generated and transmitted by words, images, signs and sounds, the revolutionary changes introduced by digital technology and other innovations, further enhances the importance of Information, for both society and State. 2. Converged a wide range of Media and Systems 3. The Commission is of the view

Read more

Summary by the Commission of arguments in favour of Perspective Three

Summary by the Commission of arguments in favour of Perspective Three i.e. the complete abolition of the Federal Ministry of Information and the Broadcasting and the Provincial Departments of Information. 1. That in the 21st century, the generation of information has become so exponential and the nature of media, broadcast media, print media, social media, cell phones etc. — has become so diverse and decentralized that it is beyond the capacity of a Government-run Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Provincial Departments of Information, to handle such a barrage of data and material and that the radically-changed relationship between

Read more

Summary by the Commission if arguments supporting Perspective Two

Summary by the Commission of arguments for Perspective Two i.e. that certain parts of the Federal Ministry of Information and the Provincial Departments of Information should be dismantled/abolished or reformed, and subsequently the Federal Ministry and the Provincial Departments of Information should continue to exist. 1. That the present status of the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) which certifies the number of copies sold by newspapers and magazines, thereby providing the basis for the allocation of Government-controlled advertising to such print media, should be changed from being an attached Department of the Federal Ministry of Information into the following alternative

Read more

Summary by the Commission of arguments supporting Perspective One

Summary by the Commission of arguments supporting Perspective One i.e. to justify the continued functioning of the Ministry, consistent with Article 19 of the Constitution: 1. That the scale of complexity of both the Federation of Pakistan and four Provinces in terms of territory, population, demography, economic activity, agriculture, industry and the service sectors, aspects of governance, communication, infrastructure, internal and external security, the daily work of the legislature, the executive and the judiciary — all these facets of the nation’s existence and progress generate an enormous volume and variety of data and details. 2. That the collection of such

Read more

Existence of Ministry of Information in SAARC members state

In every Member-State of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) including Pakistan, which is a founding Member of SAARC since 1986, there exists a Ministry of Information either known by that name, or by a name similar to it. [agroup style=”” id=435] [accordion title=”Afghanistan” id=435] Ministry of Information and Culture. A 2004 media law prohibits censorship, but requires registration of periodicals with the Ministry of Information and Culture; in 2005 some 250 periodicals were registered. The Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture is the Afghan Government Ministry in charge of Culture, Tourism, Publishing Affairs and Youth Affairs. Website

Read more

Existence of Ministries of Information in non-Islamic countries

Certain non-Islamic countries are also cited as instances of major nation-States where Ministries of Information exist, with recognized functions either under the name of the “Ministry of Information” or under the names of “Ministry of Culture/Arts/Heritage/Media” etc. but the latter of which partially, or substantially perform the role of an official oversight entity for the media sector. Such countries include the following examples, with notes quoted from accessed websites: [agroup style=”plain” id=780] [accordion title=”China” id=780]Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MITT) of the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the state agency of the People’s Republic of China

Read more

Government and Media in Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’s countries

Referring to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’s countries, a sample selection of 25 of over 50 member-States is listed as examples where Ministries of Information or Ministries of Culture (covering Information as well) continue to exist in 2013. Such countries include Afghanistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey (with a Radio & Television Supreme Council, not a Ministry), Yemen, Bahrain (with an Information Affairs Authority), Oman, Qatar (with Departments and agencies), Syria, Bangladesh, Gabon, Maldives, Brunei, Nigeria and Kazakhstan.

Read more

Relationship between Government and Media in India

It is stressed that India, being the largest democracy in the world, continues to maintain the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as a subject of the Union Government in New Delhi. The Indian Information Ministry has 24 departments, organizations and functionaries to administer.

Read more

Relationship between Government and Media in United States

Reference is also made to the US Government funding of the Voice of America (VOA) network of the USA which is, by law, mandated to project information only outside the United States in order to promote friendly relations with overseas countries and build global support for the USA.

Read more