Islamabad (Commerce Desk): The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs13 billion for Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) for the financial year 2026-27.
During the meeting, concern was expressed over the growing trend of government institutions failing to allocate budgets on time and subsequently approaching the Ministry of Finance for additional funds.
The ECC directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to prepare a comprehensive plan to make PTV and other relevant institutions financially self-sufficient and present it before the committee by the end of September 2026.
The meeting also proposed establishing an effective system for collecting the licence fee for PTV to create a permanent source of revenue and reduce the institution’s dependence on government and additional funding.
It was also pointed out at the ECC meeting that PTV’s workforce is larger than that of some major private news channels, while its revenue does not correspond to its workforce.
The Ministry of Information maintained that PTV’s broadcasting reach is far wider than that of private channels and that its human resources and operational costs are also higher because it provides services across the country.
The meeting also proposed giving greater attention to producing quality dramas and performing arts programmes to improve PTV’s financial position and increase its revenue.