Islamabad; July 14, 2016: Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage has directed Associated Press of Pakistan to take necessary measures to address the negative propaganda against Pakistan in International Media. The Committee also asked the News Agency to adopt innovative techniques to reduce its reliance on budgetary grants from the government. The Standing Committee met under the chairmanship of Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla, MNA in Parliament House, this morning.

The Standing Committee gave these directions after a comprehensive briefing by the Management of Associated Press of Pakistan. The Committee appreciated the performance of the News Agency for providing credible and authentic news to media, however, observed that despite having trained intellectual and technical human resource, it should reorganize itself and adopt innovative strategy to advance as a self-reliant and revenue generating entity. The Committee also asked the APP Management to introduce Human Resource development system to train its Human Resource.

The Managing Director and Executive Director, APP gave a comprehensive briefing about the organizational structure, budget, human resource and equipment in APP Headquarters at Islamabad, Regional languages services, its Bureau Offices at provincial headquarters, regional offices at District level. The Managing Director also apprised the Committee about the structuring, introduction of modern technology and future plans for making the News Agency. He also apprised the Committee about the news sharing mechanism with Foreign News Agencies and News Channels and Memorandum of Understanding signed with Foreign News Agencies. He informed the Committee that APP was cognizant of its responsibilities and was very effectively providing counter narrative to the propaganda against Pakistan in International press.

The Committee unanimously condemned the statement of Cricketer Shahid Afridi against youth of Pakistan. The Committee was of the view that he should abstain from uttering such demoralizing statements.

The meeting was attended by MNAs, Malik Shakir Bashir Awan, Mian Muhammad Farooq, Mr. Waseem Akhtar Shaikh, Ms. Parveen Masood Bhatti, Ms. Arifa Khalid Parvez, Syed Amir Ali Shah Jamote, Ms. Belum Hasnain, Mr. Murad Saeed, Dr. Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon, Ms. Naeema Kishwer Khan, Additional Secretary M/o Information Broadcasting and National Heritage, Managing Director, APP and other senior officers of the concerned departments.