ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has revealed that a gardener has been appointed as a producer at state-run Pakistan Television (PTV).
He made the remarks during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, chaired by committee chairperson Pauline Baloch, where the issue of salaries of PTV employees was discussed.
The minister said many individuals had entrenched themselves within PTV, adding that anonymous social media accounts were being used to post tweets against him. He said he had fought hard against the “mafia” operating within the state broadcaster and would continue to do so.
Tarar alleged that some people had recruited their spouses and relatives into PTV, and said that whenever action was taken against the mafia, pressure and phone calls would begin.
He said that before his arrival, television anchors were appointed through personal recommendations, adding that some anchors were hired despite lacking public recognition. He said his government had made appointments on merit, whereas in the past, ministers appointed anchors of their own choice.
The information minister said the channel could not function properly without implementing a “golden handshake” scheme, adding that political appointments had been made at the state-run broadcaster. He claimed that in some cases, as many as 25 people had been hired against a single post.
Tarar said significant improvements had now been made at PTV and that capable anchors were being brought in for the English channel.
He added that after the war, it was realised that the country needed a strong media outlet, and said the English channel had been launched under a separate financial model.
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