Media powers may move to provinces as Senate seeks one month plan

The Senate Sub-Committee on Devolution has given the Information and Broadcasting Ministry one month to consult the provinces

*Senate Gives Information Ministry One Month for Media Devolution Plan*

Islamabad: The Senate Sub-Committee on Devolution has given the Information and Broadcasting Ministry one month to consult the provinces and prepare a detailed plan for transferring media-related functions to the provinces, as the committee reviewed the constitutional position of broadcasting, telecasting and print media after the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

The committee examined the Information and Broadcasting Division’s report on the transfer of broadcasting and telecasting functions to the provinces under Article 159 of the Constitution and the position of print media after its removal from the Concurrent Legislative List. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar attended the meeting.

The committee was told that constitutional provisions outline the responsibilities of the federal government and provinces in the media sector, and that certain functions can be assigned or entrusted between the two levels of government through the constitutional system.

The committee discussed the existing arrangements for films, cinemas and print media and stressed the need to avoid confusion over which government is responsible for which function. Officials explained the existing system, while the minister said the relevant rules and constitutional provisions would be examined before the matter was brought back to the committee.

The committee also said coordination issues relating to the provinces could be taken up through the Council of Common Interests because coordination is part of the CCI’s constitutional role. The convener agreed that directions could be issued after a proposal for media devolution is prepared within the constitutional framework.

The minister requested one month to consult provincial governments and develop suitable models for transferring media functions and improving provincial capacity. The chairman directed the relevant authorities to submit a comprehensive proposal within one month for discussion before the committee and the main Devolution Committee.

The committee’s discussion follows an earlier Senate position that regulation of print media matters should be transferred to the provinces. An official Senate release had also stated that broadcasting and telecasting under Article 159 had not been fully devolved earlier because the required provincial requests had not been received.

The committee also examined broadcasting infrastructure and the installation of transmitters in the provinces. The Information Minister told members that Balochistan and Punjab had requested assistance for transmitters and related infrastructure.

A Khyber Pakhtunkhwa representative told the committee that 10 radio channels were operating successfully in the province and that further expansion could be considered. The chairman directed the concerned officials to coordinate with the provinces and suggested that meetings at Director General level should take place first to resolve the infrastructure issues.

The meeting also brought attention to problems in government figures relating to newspaper circulation. According to the supplied record, the Information Minister acknowledged that official circulation figures for newspapers were incorrect and that figures reported through the Central Media List and ABC were also being reported incorrectly from both sides. The record says reforms are expected within one month and that a conference of information ministers from all four provinces is planned to discuss the issue and recognise the provincial role.

The circulation issue is important because newspaper circulation figures are used in the government’s media system and the committee is now seeking changes in how such figures are handled. The supplied record does not give a specific revised circulation figure, so no new figure was provided at the meeting.

The committee’s overall focus was to clarify the division of media responsibilities between the federal government and the provinces, improve provincial capacity and ensure that future arrangements remain within the constitutional framework. The ministry has been given one month to return with its consultations and detailed proposal.