ACCORDING to reports, Board of Directors of the state-run Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) has approved a proposal for about three-fold increase in the television license fee, which is currently being collected through electricity bills. The proposal is aimed at generating additional Rs. 20 billion by increasing the existing Rs 35 per month levy imposed on power bills including those of mosques and all the meters on the same premises, which already means payment of Rs 70 or Rs 105 and more per month PTV license fee by most of the consumers.
PTV is a national institution and there is every reason to improve its viability and profitability through a combination of measures. It is currently facing losses and is unable even to make due payments to its employees or its clients. However, the cherished objective of ensuring viability of the institution should be achieved through business plans other than the easiest method of burdening the power consumers, who are already paying numerous taxes on their bills. Addition or increase of taxes on these bills has consequences for the entire economy as apart from unbearable burden on families, businesses and industries also pass on the increase to the masses. The logic that the license fee has not been increased for years is devoid of truth as it was increased from Rs. 25 to 35 and the revenues keep on increasing on an almost daily basis with the addition of new power connections. PTV is facing financial problems mainly because of undue interference of the Government in its affairs. There is no question that PTV should not earn profit when its private sector rivals are earning handsomely but PTV is not getting its due share of business because of stamp of the state-run media. If the Government gives necessary freedom to PTV as originally envisaged by PTI then there would be no need to increase license fee and the Corporation would be able to increase its revenues through advertisements and broadcast rights. If Government intervention remains as it is, then it is also the responsibility of the Government to provide it budgetary support but again not through increasing the license fee manifolds. Another issue is also agitating the minds of the people – why Radio Pakistan, which is state-run media serving entire country including remote and inaccessible regions – is treated differently and not given share from the license fee despite the fact that it is facing more serious problems than PTV.
