Government has no criterion for running ads on private TV channels, NA told

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 10 years ago

ISLAMABAD:  The government has no set criteria for selecting private TV channels to air its advertisements, the National Assembly was told last month.

This issue was raised on November 26 when the government told the lower house that since June 2013 it has spent over Rs500 million on advertisements on private TV channels. During the Question Hour, PPPP’s legislator Nafisa Shah had asked about money the government spent on advertisements on electronic media during 2013-14. A list detailing Rs240 million paid to 56 TV channels was also shared with the National Assembly.

After the explanation over the total money – Rs594 million - spent on the government ads and the payments made uptil now – Rs306 million –  MQM legislator Syed Asif Hasnain asked about the “authority” which gives approval to these ads and the criteria for selecting a private TV channel for running those ads. “Some channels have been given more ads than others and in some cases double payments have been made,” he added.

Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, frankly informed the House that unlike the print media no criteria or standard has been prepared for government ads on private TV channels since the country opened its airwaves in 2002. “There was no standard in the previous government and even before that. Right now also there is none.” However, he quickly added that for the first time the government under the directions of the Prime Minister is working on  developing a criteria. The secretary tried to explain some contours of the policy such as viewership of TV channels, and their rates.

Distributed via cable networks today Pakistan has more than 90 private satellite TV channels. They are becoming the first source of news/information for a large number of people. In July 2013, according to a Gallup Pakistan survey, the Cable TV viewership reached 64%, up from 55% in 2010.  

Read Next

PFUJ calls for end to Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

 November 02, 2025: PFUJ urges Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments to end Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists and ensure their safety and press freedom.

Global impunity for journalist murders worsens as Pakistan sees 60 percent rise in attacks

 November 02, 2025: Impunity for crimes against journalists deepens worldwide as Pakistan reports a 60 percent surge in attacks and weak enforcement of safety laws.

Pakistan Press Foundation documents 137 attacks on journalists in 2025

 November 01, 2025: Pakistan Press Foundation reports 137 attacks on journalists in 2025, highlighting rising threats, legal harassment, and censorship on the International Day to End Impunity.

Anchor Talat Hussain laughs as Marwat makes vulgar comment on air

 November 01, 2025: A viral Samaa TV clip featuring MNA Sher Afzal Marwat’s crude remarks and Talat Hussain’s laughter raises questions about the declining ethics of Pakistani television.

Why was this DawnNews TV journalist targeted in a foiled murder plot?

 October 31, 2025: Police foiled a plot to kill DawnNewsTV journalist Tahir Naseer in Rawalpindi after arresting suspects hired for Rs200,000. Naseer says threats followed his reporting.

CPJ calls on Pakistan to prosecute killers of journalist Imtiaz Mir

 October 31, 2025: CPJ calls on Pakistan to bring Imtiaz Mir’s killers to justice after the journalist was allegedly murdered by a banned militant group in Karachi.

PFUJ urges quashing of fabricated case against journalist Matiullah Jan

 October 30, 2025: The PFUJ has condemned a fabricated drug case against journalist Matiullah Jan, calling it an attempt to silence him and urging authorities to quash the charges immediately.

NewsOne TV hit by layoffs and unpaid wages, channel remains on air

 October 30, 2025: NewsOne TV remains on air but faces mass layoffs and delayed salaries, exposing Pakistan’s worsening media crisis and financial instability.