Media

All the three means of mass-communication, i.e. press, radio and the television are flourishing in Pakistan.  The press laws have been liberalized and television and radio are enjoying autonomy. 

The Press

The Pakistani Press caters for all political views.  It is free from government intervention and censorship.  The national press has grown rapidly since the establishment of Pakistan.  There has been a rapid increase in the number of newspapers and periodicals.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting deals with government matters pertaining to the entire news media.  One of its key roles is to assist the Government in its management of relations with the press.  The Ministry is the key link between the Government and the media.  Besides playing the role of an official spokesman of the government, it provides professional assistance to other ministries/Government departments and organization’s.

Pakistan Television Corporation Limited (PTVC)

Television Corporation Limited is a public limited company registered under the Company. Act.

PTV’s existing network comprising five TV centers at Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi and an Educational TV centre at Islamabad and 29 re-broadcasting stations throughout the country, extends TV coverage to 87% population and 36.3% area of the country through pTV-1 and 56.5% population and 23.6% area through PTV-2.  In terms of viewer-ship, the 45% of urban area, covered by Shalimar Television Network (STN), a semi-public enterprise, in ten cities, is extra.

 Pakistan Television has four channels which are telecast on two different satellites as follows:-

                   i). PTV National and PTV-World are linked with Asia Sat-3S.

                  ii). PTV-1 & STN Channels are linked with Thaicom-3 Satellite.

 The transmission of PTV National and PTV World on Asia Sat-3S Satellite is viewed in the following countries:- 

                   1.       Afghanistan                               2.       Armenia

                   3.       Australia                                    4.       Azerbaijan

                   5.       Bangladesh                                6.       Bahrain

                   7.       Bhutan                                      8.       Brunei

                   9.       Cambodia                                  10.     China

                   11.     Georgia                                     12.     Hong Kong

                   13.     India                                         14.     Indonesia

                   15.     Iran                                          16.     Israel

                   17.     Japan                                        18.     Jordan

                   19.     Kazakhstan                                20.     Kuwait

                   21.     Laos                                          21.     Malaysia

                   23.     Maldives                                    24.     Mangolia

                   25.     Myanmar                                   26.     Nepal 

                   27.     North Korea                               28.     Oman

                   29.     Papua New Guinnie                     30.     Philippines

                   31.     Qatar                                       32.     Russia

                   33.     Saudi Arabia                              34.     Singapore

 The transmission of PTV-1 & STN on Thaicom-3 Satellite can be viewed in the following countries:-

                    1.       Afghanistan                               2.       Bangladesh

                   3.       Bhutan                                      4.       Brunei

                   5.       Cambodia                                  6.       China

                   7.       Hong Kong                                 8.       India

                   9.       Indonesia                                  10.     Iran

                   11.     Kazakhstan                                12.     Laos

                   13.     Malaysia                                    14.     Mongolia

                   15.     Myanmar                                   16.     Nepal

                   17.     Oman                                       18.     Philippines

                   19.     Singapore                                  20.     Sri Lanka

                   21.     Tajikistan                                  22.     Taiwan

                   23.     Thailand                                    24.     Turkmenistan

                   25.     UAE                                          26.     Uzbekistan

                   27.     Vietnam 

Sometimes certain sports program however, cannot be viewed in the above mentioned countries because of the copyright agreement.  All other programs of PTV-1 and STN Channels can be viewed at all times in the above mentioned countries through Thaicom-3 Satellite.

Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC)

Radio is a very effective instrument of mass communication because of quickness, easy access and infinite reach. It is particularly true in developing countries like Pakistan where literacy level is low, areas are vast and means of communication.

At the time of independence, Pakistan inherited merely two transmitters, one at Peshawar and the other at Lahore, both coming on air under the banner of Radio Pakistan.  From this scratch the network has raised an empire that now covers 95% of the country’s population of 142 million people and 75% of the territory on 30 medium wave and the entire nation on 12 short-waves over a batter of powerful transmitters.  It presently boasts 25 radio stations giving 3001 & 1041 KWs power output respectively.  Together, they pout out daily 300 hrs of news and entertainment programs in domestic and external services.  The network broadcasts in 18 regional and 15 foreign languages. 

In 1998, the network launched an FM channel from 7 cities including Islamabad.  In April 2001, it also launched an exclusive news and current affairs channel.  Besides, the network has forked out to the Internet where its service is available round the clock.

Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)

APP’s main role is to report, gather and distribute domestic and foreign news.  Besides economic, financial and sports reports, it projects national events.  Its charter of functions is to:

• Ensure free and efficient flow of news to people, electronic media including radio and television and newspapers as well as business and non-media subscribers for which they pay a regular monthly subscription to APP.

• Supply unbiased and reliable news speedily and supply features to newspapers, other national/international news agencies, and national and international radio and television networks with which it has entered into agreements.

• Supply correct and reliable economic, financial and commercial services, including national and international rates of commodities to its subscribers expand and develop news service into the country;

• Ensure high journalistic standards.

INFORMATION FOR JOURNALISTS INTENDING TO VISIT PAKISTAN FOR PROFESSIONAL ASSIGNMENTS

Journalists/media persons intending to visit Pakistan need to submit duly filled and signed Visa Application forms, and the following:

i.        Letter from Company/Media network giving full information regarding the purpose of visit to Pakistan

ii.       Complete itinerary inclusive of dates & places to be visited during stay in Pakistan

iii.       Addresses where media persons will be staying during visit to Pakistan

iv.      Synopsis of film/documentary. (In case of TV teams)

v.       Photographs 4

vi.      Copy of Passport

vii.      List of equipment to be temporarily exported for use during visit to Pakistan for respective assignment

viii.     Accreditation Card

ix.       Hong Kong ID Card

 All media persons may on reaching Pakistan, contact External Publicity Wing, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for professional assistance,

Ph: 92-51-9207314
 Fax: 92-51-9202448/9202802
E-mail: dgeq@isb.comsats.pk

 For further detailed information about the country, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s website www.infopak.gov.pk may be visited.

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