ISLAMABAD, 19 FEB (DNA) – Meeting of the Standing Committee on Information Broadcasting and National Heritage was held in Islamabad Friday with Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla in the chair.The meeting was held to discuss and scrutinize budgetary proposals relating to the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) of Ministry of Information Broadcasting and National Heritage for the financial year 2016-2017.The Committee discussed and approved PSDP of M/o Information Broadcasting and National Heritage for financial year 2016-17 amounting to Rs.1686.928 million to be spent on 44 projects. The Ministry proposed Rs.602.366 and Rs.1084.562 million for 32 ongoing and 12 new projects/initiatives, respectively in respect of projects Information & Broadcasting Division and its allied organizations for the financial year 2016-17.

The Committee directed the Ministry for early completion of ongoing projects. The Committee also expressed its dissatisfaction on the performance of Press Information Department, therefore, constituted a three member Sub-Committee under the Convenership of Dr. Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon, MNA to discuss and suggest ways and means to improve the performance of the Department and submit its recommendations to the main Committee within 30 days.

The Committee while appreciating the Ministry for its initiatives for preservation of national cultural heritage, termed government patronage imperative for preservation of diminishing cultural heritage in the country. The Committee also directed the PTV management to strengthen PTV Station Multan, which was playing a pivotal role in bringing problems of the southern Punjab into limelight. The Chairman also pointed out the inordinate delay in construction of rebroadcast station in District Khanewal. He said that PTV transmission was not accessible to large number of population in District Khanewal and its adjoining areas. The committee also directed the Ministry to get the valuable property of the National Press Trust (NPT) in Multan from the encroachers.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Mr. Shakir Bashir Awan, Mr. Tahir Iqbal Ch., Ms. Arifa Khalid Parvez, Ms. Marriyum Aurangzeb, Dr. Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon, Secretary M/o Information Broadcasting and National Heritage, Director General (PBC), Managing Director (PTV), Director General (PNCA) and other senior officers of the concerned departments. DNA