Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb criticizes the former government, saying that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) used PTV for its own purposes. “Agreements were made to give economic incentive to a certain private channel. Those involved will be punished according to law.” She told media in a press conference on Saturday.
Criticizing former government she said Imran Khan who promised to revamp PTV and adopt the BBC model for state television, gave direct instructions to PTV administration. Former Information minister and PTI leader Fawad Chaudry was the facilitator of economic downfall of the institution. PTI used PTV as a mouthpiece for its party propaganda.
She announced that her government will take back the rights from private sports channel which was established as a parallel to state own sports channel PTV Sports, the only revenue earning state owned television network. The details of internal committee report will be submitted to FIA on Monday and the culprits will be brought to justice.
“We will not restrict to just departmental inquiries rather take the matter into tribunal and will hold responsible accountable for this illegal deal which caused the economic murder of a prestigious institution.” As chief executive I have powers to terminate the deal, Maryam told media.
Reacting to her press conference, former Information Minister Fawad Chaudry told media that when PTI government took over PTV in 2018, PTV was facing 410 million annual losses. When I left PTV in 2022, it was in profit of 4 billion rupees. “Efforts are being made to award contracts to a PDM favorite channel which will cause the actual death of PTV.”