ISLAMABAD:
The government has decided to ax nearly one in four sanctioned posts at Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) as part of efforts to reduce the national entity’s losses and has also approved a new business plan for the state-run entity.
On Friday, the Ministry of Information informed the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises (CCoSOE) of the decision to cut 1,232 posts out of the 5,442 sanctioned posts, representing a 23% reduction in staff at the overstaffed organisation. .
“The Committee was informed that of the 5,442 authorized PTV positions, 1,232 had also been abolished to save costs,” according to a press release from the Ministry of Finance.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired the meeting, where the cabinet committee approved the business plans for both PTV and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC).
Details revealed that PTV News, the news arm of the corporation, made less profit than budgeted and incurred higher than budgeted expenses during the fiscal year 2023-24. Against the budgeted revenue of Rs 357 million, the provisional income amounted to Rs 200 million. Meanwhile, expenses rose to Rs 688 million, compared to the budgeted Rs 585 million.
The commission was informed that PTV currently employs 95 presenters.
The Ministry of Finance noted that the Ministry of Information presented a revival business plan for PTV, which includes measures such as digital expansion, content licensing, profitable marketing partnerships, public-private collaborations and better utilization of PTV properties to Maximize operational efficiency and revenue potential.
The committee deliberated on the PTV and PBC plans, emphasizing operational excellence and timely execution of planned actions to achieve desired results.
Furthermore, the committee recommended that the Ministry of Information work through the administrative boards of PBC and PTV to make proactive use of unused assets, preferring sales of these assets to the private sector over engaging in real estate activities that could detract from their value. to their main function as state broadcasters. .
The business plans also included proposals to increase revenue, secure sponsorships and reduce operating costs.
However, the cabinet committee was briefed on the challenges identified through a PESTLE analysis, a tool used to understand external factors affecting business plans. As a state broadcaster, PTV operates under government supervision, which often alters its content and organizational priorities. Furthermore, unlike private channels, PTV’s public service mandate limits advertising revenue, which affects profitability.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan has more than 90 million television viewers, and spending on television advertising reached Rs 50 billion in fiscal year 2023-24, up from Rs 43.4 billion in the previous year. previous year. In contrast, digital media advertising expenditure declined to Rs 25.25 billion in fiscal year 2023-24 from Rs 26.5 billion the previous year, according to the Information Ministry.
For PBC, the business plan focuses on generating revenue through better program content, better signal quality and utilization of seven large unused spaces and six large tracts of open land in various cities. The proposed measures include installation of ATMs and billboards at suitable locations of Radio Pakistan.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the committee was told that PBC could achieve financial break-even within two years of implementing the proposed plan.
Apart from the business plans of the station, the committee approved the reconstitution of the Board of Directors of Karachi Tool, Die and Mold Center (KTDMC) under the Ministry of Industries and Production. The CCoSOEs approved the appointment of five candidates from the private sector and ex-officio directors were appointed for a period of three years, with Abdur Razaaq Gauhar as chairman of the board. This reconstitution aims to improve corporate governance and ensure effective decision-making for the entity.
Likewise, the reconstitution of the Board of Directors of the Technological Updating and Skills Development Company (TUSDEC) was also approved. Six private sector candidates and ex-officio directors were appointed for a three-year term, with Muhammad Noorud Din Daud as Chairman of the Board. These changes align with the State-Owned Enterprise Ownership and Management Policy 2023, which aims to improve operational efficiency and align company objectives with national priorities.
