President Arif Alvi approves PEMRA (Amendment) Bill 2023

ISLAMABAD (APP) - President Dr Arif Alvi has accorded his approval to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Amendment Bill 2023.

The president approved the bill under Article 75 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

Earlier talking to a delegation of representatives of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday, President Dr Arif Alvi had assured media workers and the journalist community of his support for the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Amendment Bill 2023.

The President appreciated the collective efforts of the media community for introducing amendments to the PEMRA law, especially to protect the rights of media workers. He said that the linking of government advertisements with the payment of dues to electronic media employees would help address their issues.

The President discussed in detail various aspects of the bill with the visiting delegation, adding that the amendment bill had brought improvements to the existing media law. He also asked the members of the delegation to volunteer to educate the youth about fake news and disinformation.

He highlighted that teenagers were among the most vulnerable populations to the scourge of fake news, and they needed to be educated and sensitized about its implications. He remarked that the media, especially senior journalists, should enhance linkages with academia and universities to guide and educate students about fake news and the new developments taking place in the field of journalism.

The delegation comprised of Afzal Butt, Arshad Ansari, Naz Afreen Saigol, Sarmad Ali, Shahab Zuberi, Shakeel Masud, Ijaz ul Haq, Kazim Khan, Ayaz Khan and Azhar Abbas.