Media representative bodies jointly reject PMDA

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 11 August 2021

Major media organizations in Pakistan have opposed the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority. They claim it infringes upon press freedoms and promotes state control.

Summary

KARACHI—Representatives of media organizations have rejected the government's proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA), terming the move unconstitutional and draconian law against the freedom of the press and expression and a step towards imposing state control to regulate all segments of media.

According to a press release, the All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors in a joint statement objected to the proposed PMDA.

The stakeholders have said that it is an attempt to tighten the federal government's control over the media from one platform and ignores that print, electronic, and social media are separate entities, each with its defined features.

The representatives have called on the joint meeting of the Senate and National Assembly to reject the proposal.

KEY POINTS:

• Five major media bodies issued a joint statement against the PMDA.
• The proposal is deemed unconstitutional and draconian.
• The stakeholders insist that media segments should remain independent.
• They urge the Senate and National Assembly to reject the proposal.
• Concerns revolve around government regulation of all media types.