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The National Assembly has been summoned to meet on Monday, the 1st April, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. in the Parliament House, Islamabad
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NA Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage meets

Thursday, 19th April, 2018

Islamabad; April 19th, 2018: The Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage met under the chairmanship of Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla, MNA in Islamabad.

The Committee expresses their deep condolences on the death of Chairman Pir Muhammad Aslam Boadla’s mother and offered fateha for the departed soul.

The Committee while discussing the issue of missing paintings of renowned painters from Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA), directed Director General (PNCA) to devise a mechanism to avoid such instances in future. The Committee was apprised that 104 paintings were reported missing in the year 2015. Representative of the FIA stated that PNCA has shared only a partial record on the matter with FIA, if a complete information and inquiry report would have been submitted to the FIA; a delay would not have been possible. On his this contention DG PNCA answered that a complete inquiry report done on the matter has already been shared with the FIA and to avoid such instances in future evaluation and authentication of Paintings process has already initiated by the PNCA.        Ms. Arifa Khalid Pervaiz and Dr. Azhar Khan Jadoon stated that they are extremely disappointed how PNCA and FIA are shifting responsibility to each other. The committee recommended that the PNCA should also share inquiry report with the committee as well.  To which Secretary of Information and Broadcasting said that the division with the help of PNCA will share the inquiry report with the Committee within three days and the FIA representative also committed that the FIA will also going to prepare an inquiry report and present to the Committee before its next meeting.

Secretary Information and Broadcasting briefed the committee about the status of establishment of new channels i-e. PTV Kids and PTV Parliament. It was briefed to the committee that Annual Development Program (ADP) has already approved the proposals regarding PTV Parliament and it will be up and running within four months after the budget and for the PTV Kids channel, PC1 has been established and the work on the establishment of the said channel is under process.

Minster for State Ms. Maryam Aurengzeb briefed the committee about the film and culture policy and stated that ministry of Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage has proposed Income tax (import duties exemptions and reduction on sales tax) exemptions on import of equipment for film and drama industry. Loan schemes are also introduced to support and encourage new film makers who are interested in making films, theatre or art academies. Artist assistant fund is also going to be made to financially assist Artists for their health care. The Minister stated that tackling and regulating Pirated material is going to be their priority because of that cinema industry is having financial troubles since long. The committee appreciated the hard work of Minister of State and Secretary Information Broadcasting on their dedication towards building a strong film industry supporting Pakistani culture and traditions and decided that the Committee shall write a letter to the Finance Ministry requesting that the proposals made by the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage for budget may be approved as it is.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Muhammad Khan Daha, Ms. Parveen Masood Bhatti, Ms. Arifa Khalid Parvez, Ch. Muhammad Tufail, Ms. Belum Hasnain, Dr. Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon, Ms. Saman Sultana Jaffri, Malik Muhammad Aamir Dogar, Ms. Naeema Kishwer Khan, besides Minister of State, senior officers of the Ministry of Information Broadcasting Division, Pakistan National Council for Arts (PNCA) and officers of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) attended the meeting.