The government has deferred the decision to increase Pakistan Television licence fee from Rs35 to Rs100.

Addressing a news conference after a cabinet meeting in Islamabad, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said the premier stopped increase in the PTV licence fee. He added the PM also issued directives to pay all outstanding dues of media houses by next week.

Earlier, a proposal to raise PTV licence fee was being under consideration to get over its financial crisis. However, some ministers showed reservations about Rs65 surge.

They called for taking the public into confidence before going ahead with the move. People should be told about the Rs14 billion loss the PTV bearing with, they suggested.

In a statement a couple of days ago, the state-run television admin defended its proposal to increase the licence fee, saying that public broadcasters are supported by their respective governments through TV licence fees all around the world.

It added countries like the UK, France, Germany and Turkey charge a monthly TV licence fee to fund BBC, France TV, DW and TRT respectively ... following the similar international model, the Pakistan government charges a monthly TV licence fee of Rs35 only.