ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on Wednesday directed the state-run electronic media to work out a comprehensive procedure for the payment of royalties to artists and performers and submit a report in the next meeting of the committee.

Chairman of the committee Senator Faisal Javed said all over the world royalties were given to artists, but in Pakistan the electronic channels earn money by telecasting the work of artists repeatedly but do not share profits with them.

The PTV officials briefed the committee about the policy regarding payment of royalties to the artists.

They informed the committee that media houses do not pay royalties to artists.

The payments are made to artists all at once in the beginning and the artists also preferred a lump sum payment.

The chairman of the committee said that the artist should be given the option in the contract to choose between royalty or lump sum payment.

Meanwhile, the officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting briefed the committee on provision of financial support to the artists.

The committee members also discussed the outcome of the welfare funds for artists created by the government.

The officials of the ministry of information said that currently there were funds for the welfare of artists, and upon receipt of the application for financial assistance, approval is sought from the board and all possible assistance is provided to the applicant.

However, the committee was informed that most of the artists were not aware of these funds so people do not contact the relevant forums in order to avail the assistance.

Minister of State Farrukh Habib told the committee that the government was going to appoint a chairman of Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees ITNE very soon which would help in resolving some issues, and regarding the closure of News One channel, Senator Irfan Siddiqui told the committee members that it was very unfortunate to close the channel without any inquiry and without any notice.

Chairman of the Committee Senator Faisal Javed expressed strong reservations over the fabricated campaign regarding Prime Minister Imran Khan and the First Lady.

“There should be no comments on personal matters. Freedom of expression should not be curtailed but its misuse should also be discouraged,” he added.

The committee condemned the violence perpetrated by state institutions against anchor Iqrarul Hassan, and the minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib informed the committee that the inquiry has been initiated against the officials involved in the incident.

The meeting was also attended by Senator Mohammad Tahir Bizenjo, Senator Kamran Michael and Senator Anwar Lal Din.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2022