Google, Facebook start investing in Pakistan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Monday that Facebook and Google have started investment in Pakistan, which would help local talent to flourish.

He was talking at the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting meeting, chaired by Senator Faisal Javed.

The committee deferred the agenda item on Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA) on the request of Rubina Khalid, Khushbakhat Shujaat, and Pir Sabir Shah as only three members could attend the meeting.

During the meeting, it was informed that the government has planned to set up a new regulatory authority for all types of media, namely Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA), with the consensus of all stakeholders which would be free from government intervention.

According to Information Minister, presently Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) is regulating electronic media, while Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) was looking after print media and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority was responsible for regulation of digital media.

He said that with advancements in technology, all media have converged in cellular mobile phone set. Chaudhry stressed the need for constituting an authority, which could regulate all media simultaneously.

He said that he had held meetings with political leaders to discuss the formation of new media regulatory authority.

Elaborating the aim behind the move, he said that at present print media workers were provided protection under the laws but there were no rules and regulations for the protection of electronic media workers’ rights.

Moreover, the minister said that the proprietors of the media houses also face problems as they have to go to different regulatory authorities for various media and one authority would definitely benefit them.

Senator Javed said that the world was moving towards specialization and there was a need for specialized regulation in the country. He added that there would be no compromise on freedom of expression and Prime Minister Imran Khan had a clear stance on the issue.

He said that it was a good sign that Facebook and Google have started investing in the country. He expressed the hope that it would boost local capacity.