In order to create a decidedly more inclusive culture of entertainment, Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Marriyum Aurangzeb has announced the establishment of Children Entertainment Authority.
The new authority, to be placed under the information ministry, is aimed at providing an atmosphere of safe, and more meaningful, media viewing for children. Ms Aurangzeb also highlighted the steps the information ministry is taking to develop local programs for children and pointed out the obstacles hindering the process.
Talking to the media, Aurangzeb shared that a similar authority has been established in India. However, no proper organization is available to promote entertainment for children and education in Pakistan.
She went on to add:
“There would be special programs on state-run television channels when we were children such as the program called Iqra and there was no match for Sohail Rana’s program [Kaliyon Ka Mala, to Sung Chalian]”.
She reminisced about the robust system of censorship in the earlier days of PTV which blocked any content deemed unfit for children. This played a vital role in their development over time.
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The minister shared that the government is looking forward to dedicate a special channel of Pakistan Television Corporation for the sole purpose of broadcasting content focused at children development.
Recently, the senate standing committee on information had expressed apprehensions about the concerned authority that satisfactory television content for children is not being broadcast. The committee also shared reservations over minimal children-friendly contents available on electronic media that would help in developing the human capital of our youth.
Absar Alam, Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, enlightened the committee that Pakistani media houses were least interested in obtaining licenses for children’s channel, let alone their development.
He added certain international channels have engaged with the authorities to tap the space offered by our media houses regarding children channels in Pakistan. They are robustly pursuing their case for landing rights of Children’s channels in Pakistan.
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