Islamabad (Web Desk): The Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Amendment Bill 2023.
The bill was moved by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb
The minister stated that the bill was prepared after consultations with the journalists' bodies.
She said the definition of misinformation and disinformation in the bill is in accordance with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and 12 countries.
"It is aimed at protecting the rights of working journalists," the minister said, regretting that a deliberate attempt was made to make it controversial.
"Under the bill, the government will not give ads to the media outlets which do not clear the dues of media workers in two months," she said.
The information minister recalled the parties in the coalition government have waged a struggle for freedom of expression.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told the House that a delegation of journalists met the Prime Minister yesterday describing the bill a milestone for the journalist community.
"Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after talks with the journalists, gave the direction to get the bill approved," the minister said.
The House also passed three other bills including, the Federal Prosecution Service Bill, the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Amendment Bill 2023 and the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Bill 2023.
Meanwhile, other bills passed by the house today included Askari Institute of Higher Education Bill 2023, the Metropolitan International Institute of Science and Technology bill 2023, the Mufti Azam Islamic University, Islamabad bill 2023, the Islamabad University of Health Sciences and Emerging Technologies Islamabad Bill 2023, the International Islamic Institute for Peace, bill 2023, the Kalam Bibi International Women Institute Bannu Amendment Bill, 2023, the Rahim Jan University bill 2023, and the Akhuwat Institute Kasur Bill, 2023.
