P IPS
POLICY RESOURCE GUIDE
FOR
Committees on
Information & Broadcasting
June 2008
This document is produced by Pakistan Legislative Strengthening Project (PLSP)
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
C O N T E N T S
1
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Purpose of the Resource Guide
Overview of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority
Institutional and Information Resources for Information Committee
Broadcasters and Cable Operators Associations
Media and Journalists Freedom / Watch Associations
NGOs working for Freedom of Media / Freedom of Information
Major News Agencies
Major Newspapers
Major Electronic Media
Major Press Laws
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
2
3
4
11
12
14
15
18
20
22
27
39
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
PURPOSE OF THE RESOURCE GUIDE
The purpose of this resource guide is to gather available informational resources
for Information and Broadcasting Committees of the two Houses of Parliament
and Provincial Assemblies on Education. It is noteworthy that one of the
impediments for improving the performance of parliamentary committee is lack
of relevant and timely information and expert opinion about the issues at hand.
This guide specifically addresses this shortcoming by introducing most of the
relevant institutional and expert support for the committee to consult from in
the time of need. Most of the informational sources have been acquired by
Internet search and web databases e.g. Pakistan Development Gateway
(www.pdg.com) etc. The resources are divided into three sections:
informational, institutional (international and national) and Human resources.
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
3
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
OVERVIEW OF THE MINISTRY AND RELATED
ORGANIZATIONS / ASSOCIATIONS
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is one of the major Ministries /
Divisions of the Government of Pakistan as it deals with a subject of crucial
importance. Information and Broadcasting according to the distribution of
legislative domain in the constitution is a federal subject. Although the provinces
have Departments of Information but they are primarily the publicity organs of
the respective provinces. Media licensing or any other policy matter is not part
of their responsibility. The Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
performs the role of publicity organ of the federal government but its charter,
functions and domain concern some very sensitive subjects including media
licensing, regulation and freedom of media organizations / journalists. The
Ministry had enjoyed monopolistic powers in the past especially in the field of
electronic media but the situation is changed and it is faced with increasing
competition and criticism by growing media and professional organizations.
The Parliamentary Committees dealing with the subject can thus greatly benefit
by interacting with the media / journalists organizations, a list of which is given
in this guide. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) is
currently not under the Ministry administratively but since the subject falls in the
category of information and broadcasting it has been included in the list.
Another point worth mentioning is that the important subject of Freedom of
Information which is not exclusively concerned to the Ministry is relevant and
the Parliamentary Committees may interact with organizations dealing with this
subject while reviewing the policies of the Ministry.
Ministry Website: www.infopak.gov.pk
Functions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Policy relating to internal publicity on national matters including the
administration of the provisions of the Post Office, Act, 1898, and section
5(1) (b) of the Telegraph Act, 1885, ion so far as they relate to the Press.
Broadcasting including television.
Production of films on behalf of Government, its agencies, Government
controlled Corporations, etc.
Press relations, including delegations of journalists and other information
media.
Provision of facilities for the development of newspapers industry.
(i)
Policy
regarding
government
advertisement;
control
of
advertisement and placement.
(ii)
Audit of circulation of newspapers.
Administration of the Newsprint Control Ordinance, 1971.
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
4
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
National Anthem.
Liaison and coordination with agencies and media on matters concerning
Government policies and activities.
Administration of the Information Group.
External Publicity.
Pakistan National Centres.
(i) Administration of
(a) Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Act, 1973; and
(b) Associated Press of Pakistan (Taking Over) Ordinance, 1961.
(ii) Matters relating to:
(a) The Pakistan Television Corporation; and
(b) The Shalimar Recording Company.
Training facilities for Radio and television personnel.
Special Selection Board for selection of Press Officers for posting in Pakistan
Missions abroad.
Ministry and Allied Departments
Structure
Press Information
Department
External Policy
Wing
Cyber Wing
Information Service
Academy
Pakistan Television
Corporation
MINISTRY
OF
INFORMATION
&
BROADCASTING
Pakistan
Broadcasting
C
ti
Shalimar Recording
& Broadcasting Co.
Directorate Gen. of
Films & Publications
Associated Press of
Pakistan
(
ti )
Audit Bureau of
Circulation
PEMRA
(Autonomous)
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
5
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Organizational Chart
Minister
Secretary
Additional Secretary
Joint Secretary
DS(P)
DG (Cyber)
DG (Internal Publicity)
DS(C)
Dir.-I
Dir. (Media)
Dir.-II
Dir.-T
Dir. (Press)
Press Information Department
Press Information Department is the principal arm of the Ministry of Information
& Broadcasting responsible for the dissemination of information and projection
of the Government policies.
It also maintains liaison between the Government and the Press aimed at
achieving government publicity objectives. Press Information Department serves
as a catalyst in creating congenial atmosphere for the working journalists to
promote freedom of press and freedom of expression.
http://www.pid.gov.pk/
Major Functions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Coverage on Electronic Media – TV/Radio
Coverage in Print Media
Photographic Coverage
Coverage through Website (www.pid.gov.pk)
Feedback Services
Advisory Role
Role of a Facilitator
Pictorial Coverage
Release of Advertisements
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
6
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
External Publicity Wing
Role and Functions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Provide professional help to foreign media based in Pakistan
Arrange interviews of President, Prime Minister, Federal Ministers with
foreign media
Prepare Weekly Projection Report on the performance of EP Wing/Press
Officers
Arrange media coverage of the visits abroad of the President, Prime
Minister, Federal Ministers and Pakistani delegations
Prepare Daily Summary of reports / comments from foreign press
To counter negative reports about Pakistan
Provide publicity material about Pakistan
Provide national newspapers/magazines to the Missions
Arrange familiaration trips for journalists to Pakistan
Facilitate foreign media persons visiting Pakistan for news coverage /
documentaries
Release selected items from foreign media to the national press
Process International Agreements covering media matters
Cyber Wing
Cyber Objectives
•
•
•
•
•
•
Consolidating Ministry’s IT infrastructure
Projecting Government policies and programmes
Providing Pakistani nationals and friends of Pakistan with necessary
information
Countering anti-Pakistan propaganda
Highlighting and exposing adversaries’ weaknesses ad vulnerabilities
Entering psychological war through internet
Pakistan Television Corporation
Pakistan Television Corporation Limited (PTV) is a public limited company. All its
shares are held by Government of Pakistan. The decision to establish a general
purpose television service with the participation of private capital and under the
general supervision of the Government of Pakistan (GOP) was taken in October
1963. Subsequently the GOP signed an agreement with Nippon Electronic
Company of Japan, allowing it to operate two pilot stations in Pakistan. The first
of these stations went on air in Lahore on 26 November 1964. On the
completion of the experimental phase, a private limited company, called
Television Promoters Limited was set up in 1965, which was converted into a
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
7
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
public limited company in 1967. Television centres were established in Karachi
and Rawalpindi/Islamabad in 1967 and in Peshawar and Quetta in 1974. PTV
satellite transmission is round the clock. The transmission includes ETV and PTV
world transmission.
http://ptv.com.pk/index.asp
PTV Divisions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Programmes
News
Current Affairs
Engineering
Finance
International Relations
Marketing
Administration & Personnel
Training Academy
Operation & Maintenance Engg.
PTV National
Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation
In 1947 Radio Pakistan started with a small Radio Stations, one at Peshawar and
the other at Lahore. Today there are 25 Broadcasting Stations in major cities of
Pakistan.
http://www.radio.gov.pk/
Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Headquarters
G-5, Constitutional Avenue, Islamabad, Pakistan, E-mail info@radio.gov.pk
Telephone
Department
Address
+92
Director General PBC
pbcdg@comsats.net.pk
News
cnoradio@isb.comsats.net.pk
CPs (About Sound Archives)
cpsradio@isb.comsats.net.pk
Frequency Managment Cell
cfmpbchq@isb.comsats.net.pk
051-9237305
News and Current Affairs Channel
channel@isb.comsats.net.pk
051-9208306
Saut ul Quran
FM 101 (Islamabad hqrs)
051-9205874
info@fm101.gov.pk
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
8
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Operational Focus
To promote and project:
•
•
•
•
•
National Strategic Interests
Foreign Policy
Defence & Security
Economic and Social Development
Counter Adverse Propaganda
Associated Press Of Pakistan
APP, the premier news agency of Pakistan, was established in 1947. It is the
successor of Associated Press of India, which was established in 1910, as a
subsidiary of Reuter’s news agency. Initially APP was run through a Trust titled
‘Eastern News Trust’, but owing to financial problems, it was taken over by the
Government through an Ordinance called “Associated Press of Pakistan (taking
over) Ordinance 1961”, on 15th June 1961. Recently, through an Ordinance the
APP has been made a corporation. Being a state-owned news agency, APP
endeavors to collect & disseminate all news that is fit to print and broadcast
from within the Country and abroad.
Objectives
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ensure free and efficient flow of information to the people.
Project government’s policies, activities, development plans and national
events.
Supply of unbiased and reliable news to newspapers, Radio, TV and other
national/international news agencies.
Provide photo service to its subscribers.
Supply of Economic, Commercial and Sports news, including national and
international rates of commodities to its subscribers.
Supplement government efforts in projecting abroad Pakistan’s viewpoint
on important political and economic issues through transmission of news to
regional and international news organizations and display on APP web-site.
Encourage high journalistic standards.
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
9
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Bureaus & Stations
Bureaus
• Islamabad
• Karachi
• Lahore
• Peshawar
• Quetta
• Rawalpindi
Station Offices
• Multan
• Faisalabad
• Hyderabad
• Sukkur
• Muzaffarabad
In addition, there is a network of District Correspondents / Stringers all over
the country for comprehensive news coverage from remote & far flung areas.
Audit Bureau Of Circulation
The Audit Bureau is part and parcel of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
It has headquarter based at Islamabad and two regional offices at Lahore and
Karachi.
The Bureau was created in 1956 in the Ministry of Industries to enforce
newsprint control. It was transferred to the Ministry of Information &
Broadcasting in 1958.
Functions
ABC conducts the circulation audit of newspapers and periodicals on yearly basis
and issues certificates of net paid circulation which enable them to get public
sector advertisements.
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
10
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
PAKISTAN MEDIA REGULATORY AUTHORITY
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was established on
March 01, 2002. Its main objective is to induce the private sector into the field
of electronic media. It aims to improve the quality of information, education and
entertainment. It strives to increase the choices available to the people in the
field of media in Pakistan. It ensures accountability, transparency and good
governance by optimizing the free flow of information in the national interest. It
is currently providing licenses to all satellite television channels and FM radio
stations. It also provides a list of all the satellite television channels authorized
by the government of Pakistan. It is also offering scholarships to students in the
field of Mass Communication.
http://www.pemra.gov.pk
Objectives
•
•
Deregulate and liberalize Electronic Media
To enlarge the choice available to the people of Pakistan in the media for
news and views.
Functions / Responsibilities
•
•
•
•
•
•
Grant Licenses for establishing TV, Radio, Cable TV and other broadcast
technologies.
Issue certificates to conduct satellite uplink
Address complaints through Council of Complaints
Prohibit illegal broadcast
Suspend and revocate licences.
Prescribe Code of Conduct for Programmes and Advertisement.
Council of Complaints
•
•
Ordinance envisages establishment of a Council of Complaints in each
province. Five Councils of Complaints set up – one each at the federal
capital and the provincial capitals.
All complaints against licencees are heard and decided by the Councils of
Complaints comprising eminent citizens. No Government official is a
member of the Councils.
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
11
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
INSTITUTIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL
RESOURCES FOR THE COMMITTEE
ASSOCIATIONS
JOURNALISTS
OF
THE
MEDIA
OWNERS,
EDITORS
AND
A major source of information and critical evaluation of governmental policies
are the professional organizations of media owners, editors and working
journalists. These include:All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS)
The All Pakistan Newspapers Society is an organisation of all the publishers of
Pakistan. It was founded in 1953 by the major, pioneering editors and
publishers of they day to facilitate the exchange of views between the editors of
the major publications of Pakistan and to protect the rights of newspapers by
giving them a voice to appeal unfair decisions against them.
Today, the APNS is a clearing house of sorts for its member publications,
safeguarding the commercial interests of newspapers under its membership
(including tax payment).
Neither journalists nor editors, though, have much to do with the dealings of the
APNS. This may seem a bit misleading, with the ‘newspapers’ part of the title.
The APNS, however, has nothing to do with the editorial content of any
newspaper or publication. The APNS exists solely to give newspapers a voice if
they are treated unfairly, or, as explained above, to protect their commercial
interest. (Editors and journalists have their own organisations – the Council of
Pakistan Editors (CPNE) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ)
respectively).
Today, there are 71 accredited advertising agencies and 243 publications under
the APNS umbrella. The full list of these can be obtained from the latest APNS
directory or APNS Awards Journal.
http://www.apns.com.pk/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
12
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Council Of Pakistan Newspapers Editors
The Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) is a representative body of
the editors of the publications of Pakistan. The objectives and members / office
bearers of APNS and CPNE overlap but the CPNE is more concerned with the
editorial content and freedom of newspapers.
Journalists Associations And Press Clubs
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists
The organisation is a trade union of working journalists of Pakistan and it will be
called "The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.’ The Registered Office of the
Federal Union is located in the Federal Capital. The Union’s constitution
envisions numerous objectives and roles, which include promoting generally the
interests of journalists and journalism, in English Urdu, Punjabi, Pashtu,
Kashmiri. Sindhi, Gujarati or any other language current in Pakistan; To help
unity of all workers of the press industry in Pakistan, by all means, including
affiliations with trade unions of press industry workers, except rival trade unions
formed to disrupt the unity of the working journalists; and To defend, maintain
and struggle for freedom of the Press.
http://pfuj.info/pfuj/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
13
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
BROADCASTERS AND CABLE OPERATORS
ASSOCIATIONS
Cable Operators Organization
Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia, CASBAA
CASBAA is an industry-based advocacy group dedicated to the promotion of
multi-channel television via cable, satellite, broadband and wireless video
networks across the Asia-Pacific. CASBAA represents over 125 Asia-based
corporations, which in turn serve more than 3 billion people. CASBAA's principal
objective is to bring together the satellite broadcasting, cable communications,
data casting, broadband video provision, wireless video provision and
advertising industries in the Asia Pacific region into an association dedicated to
providing information, promoting better understanding of the business and
establishing technical and operational standards so as to better serve the
community as a collective industry.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Leading cable and satellite system operators, multinational networks and
programmers.
Communications, advertising and marketing executives.
Suppliers and manufacturers of cable and satellite technology.
Members of the media, government regulatory bodies, telecommunications
companies, new media service providers and network enablers.
Individuals committed to upholding and promoting industry standards.
Related business service providers.
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
14
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
MEDIA AND JOURNALISTS FREEDOM / WATCH
ASSOCIATIONS
Local / National
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
Since 1986, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has developed to
become a broad-spectrum, countrywide human rights body. Nationally, the
HRCP has established a leading role in providing a highly informed and
independent voice in the struggle for human rights and democratic development
in Pakistan - a role increasingly recognised internationally, also. It is an
independent, voluntary, non-political, non-profit making, non-governmental
organisation, registered under the Societies Registration Act (XXI of 1860), with
its Secretariat office in Lahore. Its mission includes: to work for the ratification
and implementation by Pakistan of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and
of
other
related
Charters,
Covenants,
Protocols,
Resolutions,
Recommendations and internationally adopted norms.
http://www.hrcp-web.org
Intermedia
Intermedia is a registered not-for-profit organization working for journalists'
capacity building and strengthening freedom of information since 2005. In the
last two years Intermedia has held training workshops for media persons in
different parts of the country on diversified themes such as election monitoring,
maternal and neonatal health, reporting conflict and conflict resolution, etc.
While much of the work is done at the national level, a project with regard to a
joint journalists’ training for Pakistan-Afghanistan is also being undertaken.
http://intermedia.org.pk/index.php
Pakistan Press Foundation
PPF is recognised as a credible organization working to improve the standards of
journalism and defending freedom of expression. The PPF is a member of the
Commonwealth Press Union (CPU), International Freedom of Expression
Exchange (IFEX), Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA), Asia Media and
Information Centre (AMIC), Commonwealth Association for Education in
Journalism and Communications (CAEJC), Council of Asian-Pacific Press
Institutes (CAPPI) and the Asian-Pacific Communication Network. In 2000, the
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
15
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Royal Society for the Arts, UK approves the PPF for issuing National Vocational
Qualifications (NVQs) in journalism. The PPF is based in Karachi.
http://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/useraboutus.asp
Address: Press Centre, Shahrah Kamal Ataturk, Karachi 74200, Pakistan, Tel:
92-21-2633215-2627882,
Regional / International
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch, started in 1978 as Helsinki Watch. Today it is the largest
human rights organization based in the United States. Human Rights Watch
researchers conduct fact-finding investigations into human rights abuses in all
regions of the world. Human Rights Watch then publishes those findings in
dozens of books and reports every year, generating extensive coverage in local
and international media. This publicity helps to embarrass abusive governments
in the eyes of their citizens and the world. Human Rights Watch then meets with
government officials to urge changes in policy and practice -- at the United
Nations, the European Union, in Washington and in capitals around the world. In
extreme circumstances, Human Rights Watch presses for the withdrawal of
military and economic support from governments that egregiously violate the
rights of their people. In moments of crisis, Human Rights Watch provides upto-the-minute information about conflicts while they are underway.
http://hrw.org/about/whoweare.html
International Crisis Group, ICG
The ICG is recognised as the world’s leading independent, non-partisan, source
of analysis and advice to governments, and intergovernmental bodies like the
United Nations, European Union and World Bank, on the prevention and
resolution of deadly conflict. The ICG was founded in 1995 as an international
non-governmental organisation and the idea was to create a new organisation –
unlike any other – with a highly professional staff acting as the world’s eyes and
ears for impending conflicts, and with a highly influential board that could
mobilise effective action from the world’s policy-makers.
Crisis Group has grown very rapidly in the last few years. Crisis Group publishes
annually around 90 reports and briefing papers, as well as the CrisisWatch
bulletin assessing every month the current state of play in some 70 countries or
areas of actual or potential conflict. Publications are sent in print or email form
to over 25,000 targeted recipients and over 100,000 website subscribers, and
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
16
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
are available free of charge on our website, which has grown enormously in
popularity in recent years, with over 2 million visitors in 2007.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=208&l=1
South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA)
South Asian Journalists Association
INTER-NEWS Pakistan
An international non-government organization operational in over 40 countries,
Internews supports open media worldwide. Internews Pakistan is training
radio journalists and station managers in the standards and practices of
professional journalism and assisting journalism curriculum development. It is
also lobbying for media law and policy development all aimed at fostering a
vigorous and diverse mass media as an essential cornerstone of a progressive
society.
http://www.internews.org.pk/aboutus/aboutus.php
Address: 6-B, St. 31, F-7/1, Islamabad, 44000, Tel: +92 (51) 261 1633-4, Fax:
+92 (51) 261 1635, email: info@internews.org.pk
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
17
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
NGOs WORKING FOR FREEDOM OF MEDIA /
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
The Network for Consumer Protection
The Network for Consumer Protection, commonly known as "The Network", is a
national, public interest, not-profit organization. The organization came into
being in 1992. The greatest challenge for consumer movement today is to raise
cogent and effective voice for bringing fairness in free market economy - at
local, national and global levels. The basic mission of this organization is to
protect and promote the interest of all Pakistani consumers: by educating them
about their rights; by providing them independent information about goods and
services; and by informing them about government's performance as a protector
of their rights, especially the poor consumers. The organization also promotes
responsible and sustainable consumption practices in society, as well as the
development of alternative systems.
http://www.thenetwork.org.pk
Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives Pakistan, CPDI-Pakistan
The CPDI-Pakistan is an independent, non-partisan and a not-for-profit civil
society organization working on issues of peace and development in Pakistan. It
is registered under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Registration and
Control Ordinance, 1961. The CPDI-Pakistan seeks to inform and influence
public policies and civil society initiatives through research-based advocacy and
capacity building in order to promote citizenship, build peace and achieve
inclusive and sustainable development. Areas of special sectoral focus include
promotion of peace and tolerance, rule of law, transparency and access to
information, budget watch and Legislative Watch and Development. The CPDIPakistan also issues a Newsletter on Transparency and Right to Information.
Contact Person: Zahid Abdullah, Project Manager, Transparency and Right to
Information Program, Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives, Pakistan
(CPDI-Pakistan),
Tel:
051-2101594;
4319430;
2108287, zahid@cpdipakistan.org,
http://www.cpdi-pakistan.org
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
18
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan, CRCP
Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) is a rights-based civil initiative
registered under the Trust Act, 1882. Established in 1998, CRCP is an
independent, non-profit, and non-governmental organization. It is the first
national consumer organization in the country. CRCP devised an integrated
Campaign for the Freedom of Information in Pakistan (FOI-Pakistan) in January
2000. In this regard, adopting a proactive approach, CRCP team started
roundtable meetings and consultative meetings with various stake-holders.
These activities were followed by the drafting of a Model Information Act from
citizens' perspective. The draft was later presented before the two-day National
Consultation for extensive deliberation on the various provisions of the law. A
large number of experts including representatives of political parties,
government officials, journalists, civil society activists, lawyers, former
parliamentarians and academics participated in these consultations and
meetings.
http://www.crcp.org.pk/introduction.htm
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
19
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
MAJOR NEWS AGENCIES
Pakistani News Agencies
Associated Press of Pakistan
The Associated Press of Pakistan, APP, started its life in 1947, with the
independence of Pakistan. Initially it was run through a trust, but owing to
financial problems, it was taken over by the Government through an Ordinance
called; "Associated Press of Pakistan (taking over) Ordinance 1961", on 15th
June 1961, to put it on a sound financial footing. The journalists were allowed to
retain their independent status under this ordinance. They are not regarded as
government or semi-government employees. They are governed by Labour Laws
as is the case with the newspaper industry in Pakistan. It is administered
through the Director General APP, who is appointed by the Government.
Today APP is the nation's premier news agency which comprises highly qualified
and professionally competent journalists. APP remains committed to excellent
journalistic traditions by objective and accurate reporting. A contradiction of an
APP story is a rare phenomenon
http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=bl
ogcategory&id=66&Itemid=81
Pakistan Press International, PPI
Pakistan Press International (PPI) was founded in June 1956 as Pakistan Press
Association (PPA). The name was changed in 1968. It was first started by Mr.
Muzzam Ali; the Chief Editor of Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). The agency’s
main objective was to provide competition to APP whose monopoly has led to
deterioration in the standard of news collection and distribution. It began its
service by hand, only in Karachi. PPA also built up a network of correspondents
in the smaller cities and towns in Pakistan. This was in contrast to APP, which
was content with coverage in a few large cities. For foreign news the agency
signed up with the Agence France-Presse (AFP) in 1957, and a year later
became the first Asian partner of DPA. PPA also posted a correspondent in the
Middle East, an area of special interest to Pakistani newspapers. In 1958, the
agency installed the teleprinters in the offices of its clients. By 1960, PPI had
subscribers in all the major newspapers centers of Pakistan, namely Karachi,
Lahore, Rawalpindi and Dacca.
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
20
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Regional And International News Agencies
Agence France-Presse, AFP
A guarantee of excellence, the AFP team consists of 2,900 staff and stringers
spread across 165 countries. Agence France-Presse is based in France and it
produces each day 400,000 - 600,000 words in text, 2 to 3,000 photos and 80
news graphics, 30 video clips per day. AFP has around the world journalists in 5
regional headquarters.
http://www.afp.com/english/afp/
British Broadcasting Company, BBC
BBC, established in 1922, is the largest news gathering system by means of its
newsgathering operation, BBC Newsgathering, which includes various regional
offices, foreign correspondents and agreements with other news services.[9] It
reaches more than 200 countries and is available to more than 274 million
households, to CNN's (its nearest competitor) estimated 200 million, which also
gives it the largest News channel in the world. Its radio service is in the short
wavelength, which makes it available to many regions of the world. It also
broadcasts news - by radio or over the Internet - in some 30 languages.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1203299.stm
Reuters, U.K
Reuters is the world’s most reputable news agency. It came up in 1850s and
gradually attained a reputation in Europe for being the first to report scoops
from abroad. Today, almost every major news outlet in the world subscribes to
Reuters. It operates in 200 cities in 94 countries, supplying text in 19
languages.
http://www.reuters.com
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
21
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
MAJOR NEWSPAPERS
National
Nawa-e-Waqat group publications
One of Pakistan’s biggest group of newspapers, which publishes the reputable
ideological urdu daily “Nawa-e-waqat,” based in Lahore and the English daily
The Nation. The Nation has a special position in Pakistan's media, as the most
respected publication in English, with firm and constructive views, and excellent
news coverage. The groups’ publication is widely read throughout Pakistan.
http://nawaiwaqt.com.pk/
Jang group of publications
Another recognized and one of the biggest group of newspapers in Pakistan,
which publishes the widely read Urdu daily Jang and English daily The News
International simaltaneouly published from Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and
London.
http://www.jang.com.pk/
The Dawn
Pakistan’s most reputable English daily; based in Karachi, the Dawn is famous
for its objectivity in news and analysis.
http://www.dawn.com/2008/05/06/index.htm
The Frontier Post
The English daily published from Peshawer and Quetta.
http://www.thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=ts&nid=1174
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
22
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
The Balochistan Post
This English newspaper provides insight into current affairs with special focus on
the province itself. Its daily Internet edition highlights national and regional
issues of topical interest in the fields of economy, politics, and cultural heritage.
Readers' comments, editorials, a fact sheet on Balochistan and related links,
quick polls, and email news alerts are some of the features of this site.
http://www.balochistanpost.com
Daily Khabrain
This Urdu newspaper began circulation in 1992, with branches in Islamabad,
Karachi, Lahore and Multan. It provides regular Urdu updates twice a day on
international, national, regional, commerce, and sports news. A weekend
magazine, investigative reports, editorials, comments on current affairs,
entertainment, information for farmers and overseas Pakistanis, are some of the
other features of this website. Contact information of all the offices are also
available online.
http://www.khabrain.com/
Daily Times
Based in Lahore, this is the Internet edition of the English daily newspaper, the
Daily Times. It contains a blend of national and foreign news, including sports,
business, an editorial and entertainment news section. Archives of previous
issues and relevant contact information are also available on this site.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
23
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Regional
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)
Official news agency.
Betar-Radio Bangladesh
Official broadcaster.
Daily People's View
One of the oldest English newspaper published in Chittagong.
http://www.peoples-view.org/day_by_day/2008/05/12/index.php
Daily Star
The largest English daily newspaper of Bangladesh.
http://www.thedailystar.net/
Independent
Daily national newspaper from Dhaka.
http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/
New Age
Major English-language newspaper of Bangladesh.
http://www.newagebd.com/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
24
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
New Nation
National independent daily in Bangladesh published by the Ittefaq Group.
http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/05/12/
Holiday
Weekly political newspaper of Bangladesh with quality news analysis.
http://www.weeklyholiday.net/
Daily News
Sri Lanka’s national daily newspaper since 1918.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/05/12/main_News.asp
The Sunday Times
The leading independent Sunday newspaper in Sri Lanka
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/
Indian Newspapers
http://www.world-newspapers.com/india.html
The Times of India
Quality national paper from Delhi
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
The Telegraph
Calcutta based national daily
http://www.telegraphindia.com/section/frontpage/index.jsp
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
25
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
The Statesman
The oldest newspaper of India published from Calcutta for the last 133 years.
http://www.thestatesman.net/
The Hindustan Times
India’s leading Delhi based newspaper.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/SectionPage/Views_Editorial.aspx?Se
ctionName=ViewsEditorialSectionPage
The Hindu
India national newspaper published daily from Madras.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
26
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
MAJOR ELECTRONIC MEDIA
Pakistan Television Network, PTV
PTV is Pakistan's state owned television network which operates on both
terrestrial & satellite and seen in all parts of the world as well. The PTV network
consists of 6 channels, which will increase to 11 by the end of 2006 with the
introduction of new regional channels:
The main station is PTV and there are several other specialized channels which
include: PTV National, PTV News, PTV Global and AJK TV. Pakistan Television
Corporation has centers in six cities to cater to different region of the country
located in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar and Quetta. PTValso
has four different language stations which include Bolochi, Punjabi, Pushto and
Sindhi.
PTV is divided into:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PTV Home - Providing viewers with soap operas, telefilms and live events
PTV News - Providing for the Pakistani community throughout Asia, the
Middle East and Africa
PTV National - Providing viewers with news, education, and entertainment
in regional languages
PTV Global - Providing for the Pakistani community in North America
PTV Prime - Providing for the Pakistani Community in Europe
PTV Bolan - Balochi language channel (Balochistan)
AJK TV - Kashmiri language channel (Azad Jammu & Kashmir)
Virtual University
Also known as VU, Virtual University is Pakistan’s first university based
completely on modern information and communication technologies. It was
established by the federal government as a public sector institution with a clear
mission; 'to provide extremely affordable world class education to aspiring
students all over the country'. VU uses free-to-air satellite television broadcasts
and the internet to broadcast across the country.
At the moment VU provides four channels in MCPC mode: VU TV 1, VU TV 2, VU
TV 3 and VU TV 4.
http://www.vu.edu.pk/default.aspx?body=http://www.vu.edu.pk/Opp
ortunities/Campuses.aspx
http://wikimediafoundation.org/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
27
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Private Television Networks
Since 2000, Pakistan has witnessed a "Media explosion" as many private
stations have become extremely popular including Geo TV, ARY and AAJ TV.
Following is the list of established channels by category.
Business & Financial
•
Business Plus: The first Pakistani channel to offer business news and
analysis. Focus on news and current affairs through credible and hardhitting programming. Reaching more than 22.5 million homes nationwide
with a cable penetration of over 87% in metro cities. International
footprints in over 52 countries Informative channel interface, providing
comprehensive business information 24-hrs a day First mover advantage
resulting in high brand preference among viewers Over eleven hours of live
programming everyday Identified for its credible & authentic news & data
due to its systematic editorial policy Dedicated, specialized and a
professionally qualified team for all operations & programming.
www.businessplus.tv
•
CNBC Pakistan: With the most extensive global financial news gathering
network, CNBC Pakistan is the most recognized and respected business,
financial and economic news & information television channel, delivering
regional and world financial markets news live 24 hours a day.
http://www.cnbcpakistan.com
•
AAJ TV: AAJ TV is the logical progression of the forty years old Business
Recorder group's mission to dispense unadulterated information through
easily accessible mediums. AAJ TV has over 1000 employees and has fully
equipped bureaus in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. AAJ TV is the only
digital satellite channel to have an Earth Station in Pakistan that broadcasts
directly to the AsiaSat satellite with a footprint of over 60 countries. AAJ TV
provides round the clock news coverage from around the world in
collaboration with our partner news sources in more than 100 countries.
Combining superior news reporting with unmatched analytical strength
provided by the most respected social and political commentators in
Pakistan accounts for in depth and precise Current Affairs programs. On the
Entertainment front, industry veterans are heading the teams and using
well equipped production facilities starring the best known faces in
television.
Address: 531, Recorder House, Business Recorder Road, Karachi, 111-010010, Contact No: 92 (021) 223 7067, email: aaj@aaj.tv
http://www.aaj.tv
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
28
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
•
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
APNA News
Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah, CEO, 12 mezzanine Floor West Point Tower
Phase 2, Extension DHA Karachi, Contact No: 92-021-5392596-98, 0215888851, email: info@apna.tv
http://www.apna.tv
•
ARYONE World
Salman Iqbal, CEO, 8, St.No. 62, F - 7/ 2, Islamabad, 92-0512825399/2873312, email: info@arydigital.tv,
http://www.arydigital.tv/
•
CNN South Asia
•
DAWN News
Rooted firmly in a tradition of integrity, reliability and trust, the Dawn
Media Network has launched DawnNews, Pakistan’s first English language
news and current affairs television channel. Furthering a legacy that was
begun by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah with the founding of the
Dawn newspaper in 1947, DawnNews vows to provide its viewers with a
medium that is responsible, credible and balanced.
11, Dockyard Road, West Wharf Industrial Area Karachi, Pakistan, Tel: 92
(21) 111 11 44 55, Fax: 92 (21) 231 1077, web link:
http://www.dawn.com/dawnnews/index.html
•
Express News
http://www.expressnews.tv/
•
Geo News
Geo is Pakistan’s first private sector independent T.V Network with four
channels including GEO News, GEO Super, GEO Entertainment and AAG.
GEO News is famous for its current and news analysis programmes.
http://www.geo.tv/5-12-2008/18005.htm
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
29
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
•
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Indus News
Mr. Ghazanfar Ali, CEO, F -23, Block 5, Rojhan Street, Kehkashan Clifton,
Karachi, 021-5823271-5,
http://www.indus.tv
•
KTN News
A cable network relying transmission in Sindhi language; Website is under
construction.
http://www.ktn.com.pk/
•
Khyber News
Zahid Ihsan, Vice Chairman, HNo 16, St - 85, G - 6/4, Islamabad, Contact
Nos:
92-051-2271481-6,
0300-8555406,
92-051-2276913,
email:
info@atv.com.pk
http://www.atv.com.pk/
•
TVOne
Tahir Khan, CEO, 94, Jinnah Cooperative Housing,Society, Block -7/8, Tipu
Sultan Road Karachi, Contact No: 92-021-4559314-5
Religion
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Arrahman-Arraheem
Haq TV
Labbaik TV
QTV
Islam Channel
Noor TV
Satti TV
Shopping
•
ARY Digital
Sports
•
•
GEO Super
TEN Sports Pakistan
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
30
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Regional Channels
Pashto
•
•
AVT Khyber
Khyber News
Punjabi
•
•
•
•
•
APNA TV
Punjab TV
Ravi TV
Waaj TV
SANJH TV
Seraiki
•
•
•
Waseb TV
Kook TV
Rohi TV
Sindhi
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
KTN
Sindh TV
Sindh TV News
Ajrak TV
Dharti TV
Mehran TV
KTN News
Kashish Music
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
31
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
TV CHANNELS – CONTACT INFORMATION
PTV
9225119
Fax: 9221227
9204190
Fax. 9204105
Javed Ali , Dy. Controller News
03455145473/2807018
(R)
0333-527-5009
0300-508-5686/
2850424
9215605
Khurram
Qamar Mohyuddin, News Editor
9215928
9215928
9209740
Shakoor Tahir, Director News
Sarwar Munir Rao
Fakhar Hameed
0300-854-6152
0300-5265241
0300-855-0123
Hassan Syed
Ms. Nabiah Mehmood
Ms. Rafat Nazir
Aga Masood Shorash
4429848 (R )
0300-516-2235
0333-520-1616
0300-551-3203
0300-856-8194
Ehsan Qadir Hashmi
Asmatullah Niazi
Ahmad Qureshi
Mr. M. Amir (Assignment Editor)
0300-854-6156
0321-518-0800
0300-530-9920
0333-5453-866
Hamid Mir
0320-450-8216
Khuram Malk
Fasiur Rehman
Aasma Sherazi
Mudassar Saeed
Nayyar Abbas
Nadeem Khan
Shabbir Hussain
Muhammad Faisal
Mr. Azhar Abbas
Amna Aamir
0300-856-5182
0320-450-8887
0320-450-8882
0320-450-8894
0301-856-0040
0320-450-8884
0320-450-8883
0320-450-8885
0300-518-2390
0300-821-7425
0334-514-9765
9225119
Dir(Current Affairs)
9206664
Fax: 9209205
GEO TV
111-436-111
2878002-4-5/2878016
Fax. 2275646
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
32
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
GEO KARACHI
021-111-436-111
021-2215387
Azhar Abbas
0320-423-4287
Nasir Baig Chughtai
0300-827-6558
021-221-5381
Mir Ibrahim Rahman
Kamran Khan
Mohsin Raza
021-111-436-111
0300-822-2330
0300-854-5364
ARY
2875718-2829563
Fax: 2877103
ARY Karachi
AAJ TV
Ph: 28716562871659 (Roering)
Fax:2871658
AAJ Karachi
INDUS TV
2280020
Fax. 2254447
INDUS Karachi
VECTON TV
0302-822-0022
Sabir Shakir
Laeeque ur Rehman
Qazi Asif
Sadia Khan
Fahd Hussain
0345-345-9081
0333-511-3660
0320-4915515
0300-511-6534
0345-524-5101
0301-823-5599
Sultan Iqbal
Talat Hussain
0300-856-2379
0215681338
0300-850-9880
Tariq Ch.
Roa Khalid Mehmood
Mushtaq Minhas
Mansoor Ahmad
Khalid Jamil
Zamir Haider
Mansoor Ahmad
Wajid Hussain (VOA)
Shaukat Paracha
Irfan Hashmi
Muzammal Yasir
Aslam Dogar
Wamiq Zubairi
Nadeem Hussain
0300-954-9042
0300-500-2002
0300-955-1820
0300-524-5043
0300-854-8884
0321-500-1091
0300-551-8199
0300-519-5447
0301-514-8448
0300-956-6194
0300-856-9540
0333-510-5073
021-111-010-010
0300-513-9961
Waseem Akhtar
Abid Zahoor Malik
Ghazanfar Ali
Bezaad Saleemi
0300-508-1445
0300-854-4133
021-569-3815
0300-955-9949
Shahzad Syed ( Azadi)
Ali Akhtar , Assignment Editor
0300-516-1230
0300-5581652
Abid Hussain
0321-5093675
2879600-01
APNA
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
33
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
2826564/2829370
Fax. 2822447
BUSINESS PLUS
Mazhar Barlas, Bureau Chief
Rehman Mirza, Chief Cameraman
Waheed Hussain
0300-855-0186
0300-850-5467
111603603
Fax: 2278085
ASIAN TV-
Fayyaz Raja
Sulman Nafees
Muhammad Akram
Mr. Salman Taseer
0300-950-4043
0300-521-5212
0333-517-5852
042-575759140300-521-5212
Ms. Jasmeen Manzoor
0333-214-3440
Sadiq F. Bilal, Bureau Chief
0300-500-4345
Afzaal Nadeem, Chief Reporter
Umer Farooq, Bureau Chief
0333-510-8640
0345-528-5728
2270906/2875238
Fax: 2279973
Unit No. 14-1-D, Rehmat
Plaza, Blue Area,Ibd
KHYBER TV
House No. 90-A, St.14, I9/2, Ibd.
0333-568-1171
4102290-3
4102298 Fax
TV ONE
H.No. 3, St. 56,
F-7/4, Ibd.
2879334-37
Fax : 2875994
Rung TV
Ali Akbar
0345- 528-5728
Azeem Siddiqi
0333-521-3244
Behzad Saleemi, Reporter – Program
Coord.
Raja Adnan, Cameraman
0333-525-3043
Ms. Rashida Sial
Wajid Rasool
0333-529-6299
0300-985-1571
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
34
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
KTN
Qurban Baloch, Bureau Chief
0300-515-1238
H.No. 6, St. 38, G-6/2, Ibd.
Col. Amir (Reporting)
0300-511-1423
Shakir Solangi, Reporter
Zulfiqar Ahmad, Cameraman
Ali Kazi
Muhammad Ali
0300-973-8379
0333-5549981
0300-822-4810
0320-491-4879
Saqib Hussain
Atta Rajjar
0333-348-6173
0300-854-6337
UNI PLUS
Ch. Akram
Naveed Ahmad Khan (B. Chief)
0333-513-1118
0333-512-9008
4582397-4582289
CNBC
Nadeem Malik, Bureau Chief
0300-512-9008
0321/0333- 5117511
2829809, 2206314 Fax
021-5800520-1
HUM
2270810/2219480-90
Fax-2875907
SINDH TV
Ph: 2260953
Fax: 2252294
16th Floor, 61-A, Jinnah
Avenue, Saudi Pak Tower,
Ibd.
Ph: 2800114-6 (Rept)
111262275
Fax: 2800118
Royal
Amar Sial, Reporter
Ahmad Mukhtar, Reporter
Tahir Rathore, Director New
0321-536-9296
0320-490-1563
0321-505-8488
Ph: 2877666-7
Fax: 2877664
Najam us Saqib, Bureau Chief
0332-514-6332
0321-507-5221
Shehryar Khan, Reporter
0322-507-5545
0300-557-2476
Shakeel Ahmed Qarar, Reporter
0345-509-9943
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
35
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
ATV
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Director
4102765, Fax:
4102761
Saleem Ahmad(Editor)
Tahir Pervez Butt
Wajid Rasool
Noreen Nazli, Assignment Editor
Syed Zafar Hashmi, Bureau Chief
4102184
0300-417-5460
0300-950-0292
0321-530-7612
0333-520-8420
Ph: 4102184
DHOOM
House No. 1, St. 31, G-6/2,
Ibd
Ph: 2273093
Manan Awan, Reporter
Sohail Iqbal,
Reporter
Fax :2276220
VIBE TV
Raja Zia
0333-512-3774
7110726
RUNG
Rashida Sial
0333-529-6299
Wajid Masood
0300-985-1571
Ph: 2275111
Fax: 2274852
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
36
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Private / Fm Radio Stations
The following is a list of nationwide FM channels, the company that owns them
and the area where it can be received in.
http://thepost.com.pk/Arc_IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=58134&catid=17&date
=09/09/2006&fcatid=14
Lakki 88 FM is owned by Saifullah Foundation for Sustainable Development,
which is located in Islamabad. This is a unique FM station situated close to
northwestern tribal areas of Pakistan and its content language is mainly Pushto.
City FM 89 is a work of a Karachi based company, the Kohinoor Airwaves Pvt
Ltd. Its four stations provide non-stop entertainment to the country's elite class
in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Faisalabad.
Apna FM 89 Layyah is the only operational station among the chain licensed in
Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan.
Radio One FM 91 is another entertainment-based station that has hit the
airwaves in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. It is owned by Sallar Engineering
and Trading Pvt Ltd.
FM 92 Highway and Aap ka Hamsafar are two popular and predominately
Sindhi language FM radio stations at Nooriabad and Khairpur, two towns in
interior Sindh. These are owned by Sound Waves Pvt Ltd.
96 FM Radioactive has hit Karachi's youth and is owned by Vactracom
Broadcasting Pvt Ltd. It does not broadcast any content not even paid
programmes at the cost of fixed programmes.
FM 97 Sunrise Pakistan is the only on air station owned by Biz Broadcasting
Pvt Ltd. It has licenses for Jhelum, Sargodha and Sahiwal.
Power 99 FM is based in the capital Islamabad and it is the country's first
private FM station to go on air. It is owned by the Communicators Pvt Ltd. Its
regular transmission is in Islamabad, Abbottabad and Vehari.
FM 100 Pakistan is the first 24 hours live commercial radio station in Pakistan
that covers three main cities, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and surrounding
areas, which accounts for the major portion of our urban population.
Jeevay Pakistan FM 97, 98, 99 and 100 are four FM stations that have once
started their test transmission but now only FM 98 of Lodhran (Bahawalpur) has
regular transmission.
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
37
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
FM 101 is state owned FM channel. It has a vast network with 23 stations all
through Pakistan.
Star Radio FM 102 is a new FM channel in Gujar Khan. Currently its test
transmission is being aired. It is owned by Tani Communications.
Mast FM 103 is a popular chain of four FM stations riding the airwaves in
Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad and Multan.
Buraq 104 is a chain of three FM stations in eastern border cities of Sialkot,
Mardan and Peshawar. It is aired in Sialkot and Peshawar. It is owned by
Interactive Communication Pvt Ltd.
Sachal FM 105 is a radio revolution that has just started to hit the traditionally
conservative and feudalistic society of rural Sindh. The licensees are Sindhi
individuals who own the Islamabad-based Sachal Satellite Communication Pvt
Ltd. Company has three other stations in Hyderabad, Nawabshah and Larkana.
Awaz 105 is a Punjabi FM station that has become popular by starting its
transmission from the country's current political power base, Gujrat city. It is
owned by Future Tech Engineering and System Pvt Ltd. The station has license
for Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Sadiqabad and Kanpur.
106.2 Hum FM is owned by a Pakistani company Shamal Media services Pvt
Ltd. It brings its experience from similar pure entertainment FM stations in
Dubai. It can be heard at Karachi, Lahore, Sukkhar and Islamabad.
Apna Karachi 107 FM is another popular station for the predominantly Urdu
speaking community of Pakistan's port city, Karachi. It is the only station so far
that is owned by Syndicate Entertainment Pvt Ltd.
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
38
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
MAJOR PRESS LAWS
Press, Newspapers, News Agencies And Books Registration Ordinance
2002
The Ordinance introduced restriction on publication of certain material. (1) No
printer, publisher or editor shall print or publish in any book, periodical or paper
any material which consists of,(a) photographs or pictures of suicide bombers, terrorists (except as required by
law enforcing agencies for purposes of investigation), bodies of victims of
terrorist activities, statements and pronouncements of militants and extremist
elements and any other thing which may, in any way, promote, aid or abet
terrorist activities or terrorism: (b) graphic or printed representation or
projection of statements, comments, observations or pronouncement based on
sectarianism, ethnicism or racialism;(c) any material, printed or graphic, that
defames, brings into ridicule or disrepute the Head of State, or members of the
Armed Forces or executive, judicial or legislative organs of the State. (d) any
material that is likely jeopardize or be prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or
the sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan;(e) any material, photographic
or in print, that is likely to incite violence or hatred or create inter-faith disorder
or be prejudicial to maintenance of law and order; and (f) any material that is in
conflict with the commonly accepted standards of morality and decency and
which promotes vulgarity, obscenity, and pornography.” Full text of the
Ordinance available at:
http://www.kylapasha.com/blog/?p=317
http://www.crcp.org.pk/PDF%20Files/press%20council%20law.PDF
Press Council Of Pakistan Ordinance
A Council was established by the name of the Press Council of Pakistan to
implement the Ethical Code of Practice, as set out in the Schedule to this
Ordinance and to perform such other functions as are assigned to it under this
Ordinance or the rules and regulations made thereunder.
http://www.jamilandjamil.com/publications/pub_media_laws/ordinan
ce2002.htm
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
39
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Freedom Of Information Ordinance 2002
The right to know or access to information not only remains one of the
fundamental rights as envisaged in United Nations Declaration for Human Rights
but it is the basic tool, which enable the people to undertake the government’s
accountability and transparency. In Pakistan, in the presence of the colonial
Official Secrets Act 1923, there have been little with regard to a perpetual
method to access information from state functionaries. In 2002, the first
Freedom of Information Ordinance came to ground no matter the same is a very
weak law, which does not provide the access to information to most important
information necessary for civil society to keep a check on the government. The
FOI 2002 can be downloaded from:
http://www.crcp.sdnpk.org/ordinance_of_2002.htm
http://www.cpdi-pakistan.org/index.php/program
area?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=2
Communication and information (Local)
OnlineNewspapers.com
An Australian company by the name of Web Wombat owns this search portal. It
contains lists of all the newspapers on the Internet so far. Categories are divided
into geographical and alphabetical indices. Regions include Africa; Asia Pacific;
Asia; Canada; Central America; Europe; Middle East; South America; South East
Asia; South Pacific; United Kingdom; United States and the West Indies. A
facility is also available on this site to add a newspaper to the current lists.
http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/
NewsDirectory
Launched in 1995, NewsDirectory is a search portal for all online Englishlanguage media. It is an information rich website of newspapers, magazines,
television stations, colleges, visitor bureaus, and governmental agencies.
Browsing is possible by title, country and subject. Resources include an
encyclopedia and an electric library for online research.
http://www.newsdirectory.com/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
40
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
National Academy Press (NAP)
The National Academy Press (NAP) was created by the National Academies to
publish the reports issued by the National Academy of Sciences, the National
Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research
Council, all operating under a charter granted by the Congress of the United
States. NAP publishes over 200 books a year on a wide range of topics in
science, engineering, and health, capturing the most authoritative views on
important issues in science and health policy. Categories include agriculture;
behavioral science; biology; computer science; chemistry; earth science;
education; energy; engineering; environmental issues; food and nutrition. Books
are also accessible on international issues; general interest; industry and
economics; math and statistics; medicine; natural resources; physical sciences;
public policy; research issues; space science; ethics; transportation; and urban
development. A search facility, NAP news, how to order books, and detailed
contact information are some of the features available online.
http://www.nap.edu/index.html
Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB)
Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) was founded in 1995 by the Government
of Pakistan to facilitate the development of the local IT industry by extending all
possible help to prospective foreign/domestic investors and software companies
operating in Pakistan.
The PESB website provides assistance in finding the right company, there is a
comprehensive listing of all member IT companies. Over 900 companies are
presently registered with PSEB, offering services from data entry to developing
highly integrated software solutions. This website gives complete information
about the major projects taking place in nationally the field of IT. It also gives
information about various Software Technology Parks (STPs) setup locally. There
is a Resource Material Center for students of IT containing reports, studies and
research carried out on various aspects of the IT industry are available. There is
also a discussion forum for posting queries and suggestions.
http://www.pseb.org.pk
Pakistan Computer Emergency Response Team (PakCERT)
The Pakistan Computer Emergency Response Team (PakCERT) is a member of
the Asia Pacific Security Incident Response Coordination Working Group
(APSIRC-WG). As "ethical hackers", this group provides security alerts,
summaries and advisories to help computer security professionals build a secure
network. Information resources of interest to the Internetworking community in
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
41
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Pakistan, message boards for registered members, a defacement archive of
hacked Pakistani websites, job opportunities and contact information are also
available on this special interest website.
http://www.pakcert.org/
Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) Project in Pakistan
The Economic Affairs Division, Government of Pakistan, being a focal point of
Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) has established a
network for Pakistani institutes. They include agriculture; aviation,
communication and education sectors; engineering and manufacturing
industries; environment; forestry; fisheries; health; livestock; mineral
development; network communications; petroleum and natural resources;
railways; steel; rural development sector; science and technology; small scale
industries; computer and tourism industries; textiles and water resource
management.
http://www.panasia.org.sg/tcdc/pakistan/index.html
Country Reports (Pakistan)
A rich resource for students, teachers and tourists, A+ Country Reports offers
up-to-date information on population, geography, economy, history, and politics
on all of the countries of the world, including Pakistan. Audio clips of national
anthems, maps, current weather reports and discussion forums are also
available on this website.
http://www.countryreports.org/pakistan.htm
Portals to the World by the Library of Congress (LoC)
Compiled by the Library of Congress (LoC), Portals to the World contains
selected Internet resources providing information about the world's countries,
including Pakistan. They are arranged by country or area into a wide range of
broad categories, such as business, commerce, economy, embassies,
government, politics, law, media and communications and organizations.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/asian/pakistan/pakistan.html
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
42
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
NWFP Information Technology Board (NITB)
This upcoming website by the NWFP Information Technology Board (NITB) aims
to provide information about all IT based educational activities in the province.
Articles can be submitted, and discussion forums are available for those
interested in various aspects of computers, programming languages and the
technology involved. It also has a members' area, an FAQs section and relevant
contact information.
http://www.nitb.edu.pk/
Campus Radio, University of Peshawar
The University of Peshawar's Campus Radio website is an upcoming part of the
Media Training and Research Centre (MTRC) of the department of Journalism
and Mass Communication (JMC). It will be a recording house where programmes
of students' interests will be prepared and presented by the students
themselves. The programmes will be sent on-air by Radio Pakistan, Peshawar
station. News about events and workshops, audio clips of the department's
weekly radio programme, "University Magazine", discussion forums, partners,
and links to various print and electronic media are also available on this welldesigned website.
http://www.campusradio.sdnpk.org/
Net Pakistani.com
This web portal features the arts, provides news updates, business, economics
and information on Pakistan. This also includes the Internet, education, religion,
science and technology; health, culture and a kids' section. Sports, language
and literature; Urdu pages; music, recipes; greeting cards, an email and
chatting facility; downloads for computer professionals and a women's section is
also available on this site.
http://www.netpakistani.com/
Pakistan Special
Launched in 1999, "Pakistan Special" is a specialised monthly magazine
exclusively for the handicapped community published by a group of journalists.
The basic purpose of the magazine is to provide education, information,
rehabilitation, recreation to them. Its readership spans Special Education
centres, NGOs, embassies, ministries, semi and non-semi government
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
43
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
departments and organisations, and is available at bookstalls. The mission is to
create maximum awareness about the social, educational and health problems
of a deprived class of Pakistani society. This is the online edition of the
magazine, with English and Urdu sections, providing subscription and relevant
contact information.
http://www.pakistanspecial.org/
OneWorld's world news on Yahoo! News
OneWorld is a non-profit network with over 1000 media partners made up of
NGOs and international bodies, with a daily news syndication to the World News
section of Yahoo! News. Its news stories focus on events relating to human
rights, world poverty, social justice, the environment and sustainable
development.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wl/oneworld/?u
ISP Watch
Created by the students of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology,
Karachi, this website provides general and technical information about the
various email and Internet packages offered by Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
in Pakistan.
http://www.ispwatch.com.pk/
Information Technology
The Future of Pakistan by Dawn Group:- This website by the Dawn Group of
Newspapers provides an interesting collection of articles related to the state of
Information Technology in Pakistan. Various issues related to this field are
discussed from a national and international perspective.
http://www.dawn.com/events/infotech/
YesPakistan.com
YesPakistan.com is a service of the Human Development Foundation (HDF).
Categories in its search portal include agriculture; culture; directories;
economics; education; entertainment and the arts; family; food; government;
health; history; human development; a Pakistan explorer; poverty in Pakistan;
religion; shopping; sports; travel, tourism and Urdu sites. Its eight discussion
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
44
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
forums require registration. Links to various Pakistani social, relief, and cultural
organizations, associations, and forums based across North America, and USA in
particular are available online. An events calendar is regularly updated on the
latest Pakistani programs, festivals, or social events around the world. News,
sports, weather updates; e-cards, facts about Pakistan, opinion polls; a chatting
facility, Urdu email, a currency converter, and a downloadable file on Quaid's
address to the nation on Independence Day are some of the interesting features
of this informative site.
http://www.yespakistan.com
Pakworld.com
This website showcases an interesting collection of magazines published in
Pakistan on a wide range of interests. Raabta, an Urdu magazine contains
articles of interest to women. Computerworld is a fortnightly magazine covering
issues related to Information Technology. Travellers World contains domestic
airline schedules, air fares, baggage rules, duty free items and prices, latest
currency exchange rates and tips for arriving passengers. The entertainment,
sports and financial world sections include news from the Pakistani and
international scene. Articles by interested visitors can also be submitted on this
website.
http://www.pakworld.com/
The Newsline
The Newsline is an English monthly news-magazine famous for its investigative
reports and analysis on current affairs and politics. Archives display all issues on
the following link:
http://www.newsline.com.pk/NewsApr2008/coverapr2008.htm
Herald
Herald is an English monthly news-magazine. This website complements the
print edition by providing synopses of articles which capture issues of national
significance across Pakistan's current affairs spectrum. Archives of previous
issues, and detailed contact information about its offices in Hyderabad,
Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar and Quetta are also available
online.
http://www.dawn.com/herald/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
45
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
SPIDER, Pakistan's Internet magazine
SPIDER's website complements the monthly magazine, which is aimed at
Internet users all over Pakistan, whether they are beginners, Internet-savvy, or
Web wizards. It carries cover stories and feature articles on the development of
the Internet and how it affects Pakistanis all over the world. Regular sections on
business and technology, family issues, website reviews, entertainment, games
and science highlight the latest sites emerging on the Web. Archives of previous
issues, a chatting facility, quick polls and contact information are also available
on this information rich site.
http://www.spider.tm
Law & Lawyers Pakistan
This upcoming website provides an alphabetical directory of lawyers practicing in
various cities of Pakistan, and those working in bar associations; as consultants
and advisors; in education; environment; finance; government; law services;
legal organizations; reporting on legal issues and research. People interested in
accounting; as auditors and clerks; in court services; education; environment;
Information technology; legal publications; conducting legal research and
transcriptions; medical and para-legal jobs; as stenographers; in taxation; or
legal training can search their jobs database. Membership registration is
required to search for information on various legal cases, codes, judgments and
laws. The Civil Procedure Code applicable in Pakistan; discussions on legal issues
and news are also available on this site.
http://www.lawandlawyers.com.pk/
Green Press
Green Press was established in 1992 to fill a vacuum of information and
persuasive communication on environmental issues. The association aims at the
networking of journalists interested in subjects like population studies and
demography; economics; geography; meteorology; oceanography; agriculture;
irrigation;
forestation;
governance;
international
politics;
sustainable
development; ozone depletion; greenhouse effect and global warming. Its
annual State of the Media & Press Freedom Report is available online as well as
in downloadable format. Green Press is also the first in Pakistan to launch an
Internet radio, providing recorded talk shows on environmental issues,
entertainment and programs for all age groups. A code of ethics for
environmental journalists approved at their World Congress in Colombo, Sri
Lanka in 1998; and a list of environmental journalists and organizations in
Pakistan are also available online, together with detailed contact information.
http://www.greenpress.sdnpk.org/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
46
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Pak Avenue
Pak Avenue is the new face of the Pakistan Power Page. It is a rich and welldesigned information portal about anything and everything Pakistani on the
Internet. This site is owned and managed by Pakistan Information Networks.
There is something for everyone in the categories, which include arts and
entertainment; business; computers and the Internet; culture; a section for
cyber Pakistanis and education; government; health; Islam; regular news
updates; information about Pakistan reference; science; shopping; sports; travel
tips and web applications. A web digest features discussion forums on current
affairs, history, lifestyles, an IT corner, careers, cities and an overseas links.
Quick polls, e-cards, a chatting facility and email are some of the interesting
features of this portal. The Urdu zone includes a weekly horoscope, a reading
room, kids zone, recipes in Urdu, links to various newspapers, magazines, poets
and poetry, and detailed contact information.
http://www.pakavenue.com/
The Pakistani Yellow Pages
The Pakistani Yellowpages features information about various products and
services within the country. One can browse through different categories
including automotive, business and economy, entertainment and arts, food and
dining, home and garden, importers and exporters etc, and jot down details
such as e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers, mobile numbers, and URLs.
The site also includes a searchable database of classified information within the
various cities of Pakistan. There are links to the International Yellow pages and
the best local dailies in Pakistan, as well as information on local area codes and
international dialing codes. On the whole a comprehensive directory for
consumers and businesses in Pakistan.
http://www.pakistaniyellowpages.com
Pictorial News Review
The United Press of Pakistan (UPP) is the country's oldest news agency in the
private sector, established in 1949. The Pictorial News Review is its monthly
international news review, providing regular updates of politics, economy,
international relations, culture, education and IT. Categories include the world in
focus, political scene, diplomatic diary, business and finance. Reviews, editorials
and comments on the current happenings in the Muslim world can be found
online.
http://pnr-upp.com/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
47
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Alternative Media Network Asia (AmnAsia)
Alternative Media Network Asia (AmnAsia) is a non-profit organization striving to
build an information and knowledge-based technology culture of human
development. It works for sustainable development, conflict resolution, global
peace, and regional integration initiatives pronounced in the conventions,
declaration and instruments of UN, through conceptualization, sensitization and
dissemination of information. Comprising of professionals from the print,
electronic media and academia, AmnAsia's website showcases issues of public
interest regarding the media; public policy; civil society; research and
development; literature; arts, culture and leisure, within the context of 21st
century intellectual discourse.
http://www.amnasia.org
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Peshawar
The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in the University of
Peshawar was established in 1985. It offers a two-year postgraduate degree for
those interested in designing a new media strategy for the state and society
keeping in view the ever-changing social fabric. Qualified students can later
establish careers in the fields of newspapers, news agencies, magazines,
journals; radio and TV broadcasting; public dealing in the government, NGOs,
advertising agencies, business firms and managerial responsibilities in media
organizations, especially at production and control levels. This website
showcases the university's newsletter, campus radio studio, future plans, and
admission criteria. Activities include conducting a series of workshops for district
correspondents at their respective districts. A media directory of Pakistani print
and electronic media websites, and a list of Pakistani universities are also
available at this site.
http://www.jmc.sdnpk.org
Pakistan (By Jamie Jamal Al-Nasir)
This website is part of the Pakistan virtual aviation project. It provides a guide to
the culture and beauty of Pakistan's four provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan
and NWFP (Northern Areas) with photographs and historical information.
http://www.guide2pakistan.com/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
48
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Pakistan International Education Exhibition (PIEE)
This organization is part of the World Learning Bureau (WLB), a pioneer in
organizing education exhibitions in Pakistan. This website contains
comprehensive informative about its exhibitions, forum, and reviews. PIEE
brings educational institutions and interested students together to assist each
other in order to make informed choices about their future.
http://www.educationexhibition.20m.com/
Pakistan Daily
This information-rich search portal focusing on Pakistan is part of a wider
network by the name of World News Network. It provides daily news updates;
information about travel; visas; accommodation; restaurants; historical notes;
local industry and employment in Pakistan. Information is available about
selected Pakistani cities, plus links to news websites from South Asia in general
and Pakistan in particular.
A continent-wide and country-wide search is possible in Africa; Arab world; Asia;
Asia Pacific; Australia and Oceania; Caribbean; Central America; Europe; Middle
East; North America; Polar regions; Scandinavia and South America. Categories
include art and culture; business; computers; education; entertainment;
environment; general news; health; kids; letters; life style; politics; science;
sports; technology; travel; weather and women. Special features include
fashion, film, genetically modified foods, cyber cafés, sports, maritime, oil,
pollution, population, space and world ports.
http://www.pakistandaily.com/
Bureau of Statistics, Government of NWFP
This website of the Bureau of Statistics contains the district-wise statistical
analysis of NWFP, searchable by its 24 districts and graphical presentation.
Categories include education; electricity; employment; health; industries;
irrigated and forest areas; land utilization; yield per hectare; population; roads;
post offices; rural drinking water and telephones. Online publications include the
development statistics and district-wise socio-economic indicators of NWFP and
FATA. A map of NWFP; the organizational setup of the Bureau of Statistics, its
publications, contact information and related links are also available on this welldesigned site.
http://www.nwfpbos.sdnpk.org/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
49
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Showbiz: Search The PTV Dramas
This is a well designed, individually maintained web site with separate web
pages for more than 100 PTV dramas. These pages can be searched through a
search engine by titles, keywords or names of the actors.
http://www.show.biz.pk/
Weekly Asia
A weekly magazine based on current affairs. It provides political analysis, latest
reports & critical view of the overall political scene.
http://www.weeklyasia.com.pk/
Communication and information (International)
United Nations Treaty Collection
Prepared and updated regularly by the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal
Affairs of the United Nations, this online service offers access to over 40,000
treaties and international agreements. Databases include all multilateral treaties
deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and those formerly
deposited with the League of Nations, with their latest status and a link to the
full texts. Bilateral and multilateral treaties and recently deposited multilateral
treaties that have been deposited but not yet published are available for viewing
and downloading in some or all of their authentic languages. Subscription is
required to view some portions of this information-rich website.
http://untreaty.un.org/
ICT Development Agenda
The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) has launched a
newsletter "ICT Development Agenda". It is a weekly, web-based publication
which provides objective information about major international developments in
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The newsletter is intended
for those responsible for decision-making on international and national ICT
issues in developing countries, and those seeking to contribute to it.
http://www.ictdevagenda.org/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
50
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Digital Dividend
Digital Dividend aims to bridge the global digital divide through business
solutions that bring connectivity and digital services to unserved populations in
developing regions. Containing conference videos, speaker biographies, case
studies, background articles, and related links, the projects clearinghouse
informs about digital dividend projects in developing countries. It provides a
means of helping such projects find partners, financial resources, technology
advice and help, and media coverage; for sharing experience and new ideas; of
stimulating innovation and investment in digital dividend approaches.
http://www.digitaldividend.org/
A+ Country Reports
A rich resource for students, teachers and tourists, A+ Country Reports offers
up-to-date information on population, geography, economy, history, and politics
on all of the countries of the world. Audio clips of national anthems, maps,
current weather reports and discussion forums are also available on this
website.
http://www.countryreports.org/
Portals to the World by the Library of Congress (LoC)
Compiled by the Library of Congress (LoC), Portals to the World contains
selected Internet resources providing information about the nations and other
areas of the world. They are arranged by country or area into a wide range of
broad categories, such as business, commerce, economy, embassies,
government, politics, law, media and communications and organizations.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/portals.html
Digital Opportunity Channel
Digital Opportunity Channel is a joint endeavour of OneWorld and the Digital
Divide Network, focussing on use of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) for global sustainable development, with a special emphasis
on developing countries. Containing full coverage of news searchable by topic
and country, editorials, a calendar of events, research reports and database
resources, it aims to address strategies for using ICTs to improve the quality of
life, no matter how disadvantaged or isolated a community might be.
http://www.digitalopportunity.org
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
51
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
OneWorld's world news on Yahoo! News
OneWorld is a non-profit network with over 1000 media partners made up of
NGOs and international bodies, with a daily news syndication to the World News
section of Yahoo! News. Its news stories focus on events relating to human
rights, world poverty, social justice, the environment and sustainable
development.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wl/oneworld/?u
The first Global Information Technology Report (GITR) 2001-2002
Readiness for the Networked World documents how ICTs are being used around
the world. Through the development of the first Networked Readiness Index,
which ranks 75 countries according to their capacity to take advantage of ICT
networks; a series of 75 in-depth Networked Readiness country profiles; and
thematic chapters by experts on the Networked World, the report provides a
global panorama of how ICTs are being used, and what opportunities and
challenges remain. Downloadable PDF selections of this report are available on
this website.
http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cr/gitrr_030202.html
ItrainOnline
ItrainOnline is a technology resource center for people who want to learn how to
use the Internet effectively for social justice and sustainable development.
Topics on this interactive, multilingual website include building online
communities; computer and Internet basics; computer networking; databases;
finding information online; multilingual computing; online security; open source;
strategic use of the Internet; telecentres; web design, its programming and
management. This information-rich site also includes training events and
educational resources for Internet trainers.
http://www.itrainonline.org
Geographical, the magazine
This interesting website belongs to Geographical, a monthly magazine, which
was founded by the Royal Geographical Society in 1935. It carries stories from
correspondents from around the world about adventure, environmental issues,
history, people, places, science and technology. It provides the latest health,
travel and tourism news, covers expeditions and the world's geographical spots.
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
52
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Interesting maps and factoids on countries, books and travel gear needed for
travelling will intrigue adventure travel buffs. Discussion forums, jobs within the
tourism industry and contact information are also available online.
http://www.geographical.co.uk
The Earth Times
This is the Internet edition of The Earth Times, a newspaper focusing on the
human environment and its related economic, humanitarian and social issues.
Founded in 1991 and published by the not-for-profit Earth Times Foundation, it
specifically aims at opinion and policy makers, community and business leaders,
and nongovernmental organizations in industrialized and developing countries,
and at students and teachers in schools and colleges. Categories include book
reviews; business; children; comics; culture; development; environment;
gender issues; health; human rights; population; important profiles and daily
world news. Web and Internet related issues; a UN section; links to various
multilateral agencies and websites, and archives of previous editions are also
available on this site.
http://www.earthtimes.org/
Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (AFEJ)
The Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (AFEJ) is an NGO dedicated
to promoting education, understanding and awareness of the environment
through the honest and accurate reporting of local, regional and international
environmental and development issues. It acts as the head of national
environmental journalist forums of 37 countries in the Asia-Pacific region,
including Pakistan. Members include journalists working for newspapers,
magazines, radio, broadcasters, NGOs, environmental groups, government
departments and agencies and as freelancers. A list of publications, newsletters
and reports; an introduction to the new Commonwealth Environmental
Journalists Association (CEJA); and the international code of ethics for
environmental journalists are some of the interesting features of this site,
together with detailed contact information.
http://www.oneworld.org/slejf/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
53
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP)
The Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) seeks to promote
and establish information technology (IT) for social and economic development
throughout Asia-Pacific. Launched in 1997 and based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
the Programme serves 42 countries, including Pakistan, in a vast region, from
Iran in the west, north to Mongolia and south to the Pacific Islands of Fiji. APDIP
provides advice to nations formulating national IT policies and offers hands-on
technical assistance. APDIP is funded by the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) and implemented by the UN Office for Project Services
(UNOPS), Asia office. This website showcases its capacity-building initiatives,
which include seminars; networking academies; a Mobile Internet Unit (MIU)
and workshops for technical personnel in Internetworking. APDIP also edits and
distributes information about regulations, decisions, and activities that affect the
structure and use of the Internet, so that all interested stakeholders have the
information necessary to play a role in governing the Internet. Website links to
other development-related issues and contact information are also available
online.
http://www.apdip.net
MediaChannel.org
MediaChannel.org is a nonprofit, public interest website dedicated to global
media issues. Produced by Globalvision New Media, a project of The Global
Center and OneWorld, it is the first media and democracy site on the Internet;
offering news, reports and commentary from an international network of mediaissues organizations and publications. Resources include thematic special
reports, action toolkits, forums for discussion, an indexed directory of hundreds
of affiliated groups and a search engine constituting large online media-issues
database.
MediaChannel is concerned with the political, cultural and social impacts of the
media, large and small. A wide range of topics include activism; books;
business; children; diversity; education; freedom of expression; the Internet; ad
newspapers. Policy; law; public broadcasting and violence-related issues make
for interesting reading for media professionals.
http://www.mediachannel.org/
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
54
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
InterWorld Radio
InterWorld Radio is a partnership between The Panos Institute and
oneworld.net.It is a source of daily news bulletins and broadcast quality features
for radio stations and online listeners. Local journalists all over the world are
commissioned to file reports on the critical global issues of our time economics, human rights, environment, international trade, science and
technology. Every week a topical 5-minute radio features is uploaded to the
website's audio bank, which is searchable by subject, country/region, or date.
By visiting the web site daily, one can print a daily news bulletin to read directly
on air or to adapt for use in existing news or current affairs programmes.
http://www.interworldradio.org
Kitaab Ghar
Kitaab Ghar; is a home of free online books on Urdu literature. It is an active
initiative for the promotion of Urdu all around the world. Kitaabghar is striving to
bring out published / un-published Urdu books online for literature lovers. It is
especially useful for those who are residing in territories where Urdu books are
not available or are hard to find. The website serves as an e-library of free Urdu
books in PDF format. It is working to promote Urdu language and Urdu writers
and attract people to read books.
http://www.kitaabghar.com
South Asian Research and Resource Centre (SARRC)
South Asian Research and Resource Centre (SARRC) is a recognized, nonpartisan, non-profit and non-governmental organization pioneering the resource
and documentation services in the Pakistani non-profit sector. A unique
repository of the wealth of information on the history, politics and socioeconomic developments which have been focal to the evolution of history and
society of the region, the SARRC has acquired, categorized, preserved and
documented vital information data, fact-sheets, unpublished materials,
manuscripts, policy papers and official reports of various commissions and
committees. Almost all the important newspapers, periodicals, books, reports
and documents published in the last two centuries are preserved under one roof.
The SARRC website provides research resources, data, material and advice to
facilitate research in social sciences, liberal arts and humanities.
Their resource centre covers a wide range of subjects including politics, human
rights, minorities, development issues, environment, culture, literature, labor etc
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
55
June 2008
Policy Resource Guide
Committees on Information & Broadcasting
and caters to the needs of international and national research scholars,
university students, researchers and professionals.
http://www.sarrc.org/
Britannica.com
Encyclopaedia Britannica is place the entire contents of its 32-volume set online
for free. offering full access to the encyclopedia content as well as articles from
over 75 magazines. The front page of Britannica.com is partially designed as a
news portal, with recent US and world stories. From the front page, users can
also select from fifteen broad categories (e.g., Books, Health, History, Science,
Society, etc.) and access news, selected Websites from Britannica's Internet
guide, and the relevant encyclopedia entry. Detailed encyclopedia entries and
articles (as well as related books and Websites) for specific topics are accessed
through the keyword search engine at the top of the page.
http://www.britannica.com/
A Guide to Queer Resources in the Social Sciences
This site, created and maintained by a sociologist primarily for sociologists, is an
excellent example of a specialized metasite that prefers quality of materials over
sheer quantity. The site lists both print and online resources in queer studies
from the fields of anthropology, education, history, law, psychology, social work,
and sociology. Print resources are limited to monographs, with a decided
preference for studies published in the last decade, while online resources are
provided with brief, but helpful, annotations for researchers.
http://alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/~kroberto/queer/
Foreign Affairs Online
This metasite on Foreign Affairs offers brief annotations and recommendations
on a wide variety of Internet resources germane to the subject. Included here
are annotated listings of official US and foreign government sites; UN sites;
nongovernmental and intergovernmental organization sites; think tanks; news
sources; sites devoted to human rights, international relations, and law; and
much more. The section on map resources is offering a number of "highly
recommended" sites that researchers are likely to find valuable. Also among its
thousands of links are those connecting to complete e-texts of the constitutions
for hundreds of countries. Unfortunately, the site lacks a search engine at this
time.
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~rjb3v/rjb.html
PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES
56
June 2008