Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Sehar Kamran has raised alarm over the worsening financial and governance crisis at Pakistan Television (PTV), warning that the state broadcaster is on the brink of complete institutional paralysis if urgent action is not taken, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Friday.
In a letter addressed to Pullain Baloch, Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, Sehar Kamran highlighted that PTV has been unable to pay salaries to its employees due to a severe financial crunch. She noted that the situation has worsened since the abolition of the monthly license fee, which had previously served as a major revenue stream for the organisation.
“The most immediate concern is PTV’s inability to disburse salaries to its employees. With liabilities mounting and the collapse of its revenue model, PTV is now at risk of complete institutional paralysis,” the letter stated.
The MNA further criticised controversial and politically motivated appointments within the organisation, arguing that such decisions have eroded professional standards, damaged credibility, and undermined PTV’s ability to function effectively as a national broadcaster.
She also pointed to the reputational damage inflicted by derogatory remarks made by anchor Rizwan-ur-Rehman (Razi) in a vlog, which she said not only ridiculed PTV and its employees but also worsened the broadcaster’s declining relevance. Kamran urged the committee to investigate the matter, seek details of the ministry’s response, and ensure preventive measures against such incidents in the future.
Calling for urgent reforms, Sehar Kamran pressed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to immediately present a comprehensive roadmap. The reforms, she suggested, must focus on stabilising finances, ensuring merit-based appointments, rationalising staffing, and restoring the organisation’s credibility through professional and high-quality programming.
She requested the Standing Committee to give top priority to these issues in its upcoming meeting, stressing that decisive action is necessary to protect and revive the national broadcaster.