National Media Policy of Pakistan

Overview

• Introduction and Historical Background of Media Policy in Pakistan

• Media Policy cycle process

• Media during Musharaf and Zardari Government: A comparison

Introduction and Historical Background of Media Policy in Pakistan

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Policy :a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual.

What is Media and Policy:

Historical overview of Media in Pakistan

• Print is the oldest media of mass communication.

• Media not only gives us the facts about an event or issue but also explains and interprets them.

• In 1947, Pakistan inherited a weak press with very little law for controlling and regulating the pres.

• The first news agency of Pakistan was associated press of Pakistan (APP) established in 1947 .

• Pakistan broad Casting Corporation was established in 1972.

• On1964 the first official television station PTV transmission broadcasts from Lahore.

• The free electronic media in Pakistan was initiated by a dictator General Musharraf, though he had his own interests to present himself as a democrat President

• The Pakistani media is an enthusiastic member of the new warrior clan of the 21st century and despite belonging to war-torn country, is playing active role in keeping with the demands of the modern times.

Vision of Media policy

• Media Policy aims to employ communication as a dynamic continuum guided by the past, responsive to the present and equipment for the future. It upholds the principles of national unity, cultural diversity, equality, freedom of expression, access to information, fair media competition and futuristic planning to face the emerging challenges in the development of media in Pakistan.

Mission Statement

National Media Policy (NMP) is to promote a free, independent, dynamic and public spirited media in Pakistan.

• Article: 19 and 19.A talks about Freedom of speech and right to information as:

• 19. Freedom of speech, etc.-Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, 1[commission of] or incitement to an offence.

• Article 19A. Right to information.—Every citizen shall have the right to have access to information in all matters of public importance subject to regulation and reasonable restrictions imposed by law.

Existing policy

• Media can’t write against the state, because it is the duty of all people to save the state so this kind of news will be very harmful for the state.

• It is policy that media can’t give the statement against the Sectarian disputes, Because it creates violence and anger among the Sects.

• From the beginning the government stated policy is that the Media should be free from the government influence and formulate self made codes of ethics.

• It should uphold the highest standards of ethics, morality and respect while remarking the scenarios of the state as what it says depicts national image in the world.

Media Policy Cycle Process

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Media Policy cycle process

• There are following steps as:

• Identifying the underline Problem

• Determining alternatives

• Forecasting the consequences

• Evaluating the outcome

• Choose alternative

• Implement solution

Problem in the Media Policy

• The current policies are not implementing properly because the freedom which was said to be given to the media are not still given properly, and the policies are just for the sake of name.

• The media is pressurize to publish the news that is in the favor of some political leader or some pressure groups or in the favor of the bureaucracy.

• As all the previous governments done in the past to overcome the press, the government do the same thing to get the media under their thumb.

Alternatives

1) The freedom and independence of media shall be upheld and protected in agreement with the provisions of the Constitution and the media laws/rules.

2) The media shall, while promoting and protecting cultural norms of Pakistani society, uphold the Islamic values as a supreme concern of our society.

3) The media shall support the mass awareness efforts on national issues.

Forecasting the consequences

1) The media will be free and do not published irrelevant news that creates violence, insurgency and dispute.

2) Our country made for which purpose that we have our culture and norms and to uphold this Islamic values will be fulfilled.

3) If media give awareness about future then people can manage the uncertainty.

Evaluating the outcome

• Media will be free, but also should prevail positive image of the country in the international world.

• The problem should be solve locally according to the ethic and morality of the country.

• Media policy should national, promote integration not differences in the country .

Choose Alternatives

• The freedom and independence of media shall be upheld and protected in agreement with the provisions of the Constitution and the media laws/rules.

Implement Solution

• To ensure the acceptance of the policies by both the parties, the government and the media.

• Which save the respectability or morality of the state.

• The surety of freedom will be given to the media that they always wanted.

• The government would not use the media for their own interest they can use it for the state interest.

Media during Musharaf and Zardari Government: A comparison

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Media during Musharaf and Zardari Government: A comparison

• Musharraf can be credited for opening the doors to media, introducing the media revolution in Pakistan, however, the relation turned sour after his imposition of second martial law and sacking of the chief justice. On the other hand in Zardari era the media remained divided into three camps, pro-government, neutral and anti-government.

Media During Musharraf’s Regime

• Introducing more media freedom than his predecessors

• Opening the flood gates of electronic media in Pakistan

• Issuing of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Ordinance in March 2002

• Allowing for private TV Channels which have mushroomed since then

His Reasons:

• Absolute authority and beaming with confidence

• Presenting himself as a champion of the freedom of speech

• Granting the façade of legitimacy to his rule

• Ingratiating himself with the West

The Flipside:

• Imposition of second martial law and crackdown on Media, for instance he shut down ARY and GEO networks

• The unbridled power of the media regulatory authority, to suspend licenses, take it off air, and force cable operators to close channels

• Introduced ‘code of conduct’ for media, enforceable by the regulators

• Forcing media owners to apologize for transgressions and to conform to the dotted-lines

Media During Zardari’s Government

• As upholder of liberal democratic values the PPP government has always championed the cause of free-media

• It continued with the policy of opening the media to private TV and Radio channels

• Appointment of Sherry Rehman as information minister to foster better relations with media, which was continued by her successor, Qamar Zaman Kaira

The Obverse Side

• The PPP government always has a love-hate relationship with media

• In a bid to win over media the Zardari government appointed Dr. Shahid Masood of ARY as chairman PTV

• However, he later resigned and became a vocal critic of the government

• ARY and GEO lambasted the government for its inefficiency and corruption, in retaliation the government tried to take it off air

• PEMRA was used to muzzle the media

Conclusion

• To summarize, media can help stabilize and strengthen the country by playing educational and informative role and by imparting knowledge to the masses as knowledge is power and only a well-informed society can develop a positive approach towards fife.

• Media ensures this flow of information. If restricted, censored or hindered in any way the people will remain ignorant, ignorant of events, ignorant of their rights, their duty to the State, their needs and the role that they can play for the betterment of the society they live in and the country as a whole.

• Media successfully informs the whole world against any injustice and shows world 'criticism which compel the government to change its autocratic orders.

• After a significant role of media in restoring the judicial crisis, media has an unprecedented ability to act as a catalyst in civil society efforts to strengthen democratic polity.

• When complaints are freely heard, deeply considered, and speedily reformed, then is the utmost bound of civil liberty attained, that wise men

look for."– Milton