Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Thursday that all employees of Pakistan Television (PTV) had received their salaries.
Briefing the sub-committee of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, the federal minister told members that all salary and pension payments to PTV staff had been cleared and that no outstanding dues remained against the organisation. He said there would be no compromise on merit at PTV.
The issue of non-payment of salaries to PTV employees was raised during the meeting of the standing committee’s sub-committee, held under the chairmanship of convener Nadeem Abbas. The meeting was attended by the federal minister for information and broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, who also gave a briefing on the financial and administrative position of Pakistan Television.
The minister has made it clear that rumours circulating after the removal of the PTV fee from electricity bills were incorrect. He said the ministry had sufficient funds and that PTV salaries would not be affected.
Speaking on the recruitment of anchors, Tarar said all appointments were made strictly on merit, without any recommendations, and that a zero-tolerance policy was in place. Committee member Sehar Kamran disclosed that a female make-up artist at PTV did not report for duty herself and that her husband attended in her place.
The meeting also expressed satisfaction over the performance of the PTV Sports channel. The committee was informed about reforms in the human resources department, including the appointment of a director HR for the first time. Members stressed the need to continue the process of institutional reforms at PTV.
