Draft of code of conduct for electronic media ready

ISLAMABAD: Federal Ministry of Information and Broadcasting informed a parliamentary committee on Monday that the draft law of code of conduct for electronic media was ready and that a copy had been sent to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President of Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) for further consideration and input. The Senate Committee for Information and Broadcasting, which met with its chairman Kamil Ali Agha expressed displeasure over what it said was continuing delay in the issuance of the code of conduct. The ministry is holding a meeting with PBA this week for consultations, Additional Secretary Ministry of Information Muhammad Azam told the committee. "If PBA is given time for consultation, then other stakeholders would also demand time for consultation," Agha remarked. He further directed the ministry to finish the work as early as possible. "The committee has to provide a direction to the government for implementation of this code of conduct," Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar remarked. The draft for the code of conduct was prepared in consultation with all stakeholders and would be the first of its kind in Pakistan if launched.