Coming soon -- PNN from Pak to counter Indian `news offensive'
KAMAL SIDDIQI

KARACHI, OCTOBER 15: Pakistan Television's 36-year monopoly in news broadcasting will be broken on November 26 when the government launches a new news channel, the Pakistan News Network, to counter what officials say is ``India's massive news offensive'' in the region. This will be the first of several news channels about to be launched in the country.

The PNN is expected to use the camera extensively for presenting news,which is a new concept in Pakistan but in line with Indian news channels,and it will have bureau offices in almost all the cities and towns in thecountry as well as in the major world capitals.

The ministry also plans to launch a fullfledged external service of the PNN.To start with, PNN would telecast news bulletins in Hindi, Bangla andChinese. The news bulletins in regional languages are being included with anobjective to counter anti-Pakistan propaganda from any quarter, ``speciallyfrom our hostile neighbour.''

``The new news channels will change the face of television broadcasting inPakistan,'' says Imran Shirvanee, a news journalist. What is significant isthat for the first time in its history, the Pakistan governmentwill let go of its monopoly to broadcast news. ``In a country where literacyis barely over 20 per cent, newspapers don't matter. What makes thedifference is radio, and more importantly, television,'' says S. Kazi, whoteaches at the Karachi University's Mass Communication department.

Under a commitment given by Pakistan's military strongman, GeneralMusharraf, private news television channels will be allowed under a newframework, which is known by its strange acronym: RAMBO, which stands forRegulatory Authority for Monitoring Broadcasting Ordinance.

The major hitch to granting licences remains the government's reluctance togive television licences to major news organizations like the Jang Group andDawn Group of Newspapers: the owners of the largest-circulated Urdu andEnglish newspapers in the country respectively. An official says that thereluctance is because the government ``does not want a monopoly on the newsby a few vested interests.''

But things seems to have been sorted out and the Jang Group's ``Geo TV'' isexpected to start functioning from March 2001. Observers say that partly tothank for this ironing out of issues between the media barons and thegovernment is the pro-military line taken by some, particularly the JangGroup.

PNN will be an exclusive news and current affairs channel of the PakistanTelevision Corporation, and is all set to start its transmissions fromNovember 26 in the face of, what appears to be, strong opposition frompowerful elements within the corporation.

Considered to be a baby of former Information Minister Javed Jabbar, the PNNis being reportedly seen by PTV Managing Director Yousuf Baig Mirza as apotential threat for the 9 O'Clock news bulletin and PTV's other currentaffairs programmes.

The PNN has already recruited some 120 persons including news reporters andpresenters. It is now in the process of recruiting engineers.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.