The government has decided to cut 1,232 jobs, nearly one in every four sanctioned jobs, at the Pakistan Television Authority (PTV) to reduce its financial losses.
The announcement was made during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises on Friday, which was chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
“The committee was informed that of the 5,442 posts blocked at PTV, 1,232 posts have also been abolished to save costs,” a Finance Ministry press release said. PTV currently employs 95 broadcasters, highlighting concerns about overstaffing at the organisation.
In addition to downsizing, the committee approved new business plans for both PTV and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC). The Ministry of Information has presented a revival strategy for Pakistan Television, focusing on digital expansion, content licensing, lucrative marketing partnerships, and public-private cooperation.
“We need to proactively utilize underutilized assets, focusing on private sector sales rather than real estate projects, so that PTV and PBC can focus on their primary role as government broadcasters,” the committee recommended. The renewal plans also identified steps to increase revenues, secure sponsorship, and reduce operational costs.
Details revealed that PTV News performed poorly in FY 2023-24, earning Rs 200 million against a budgeted income of Rs 357 million. However, its expenditures rose to 688 million rupees, exceeding the budgeted amount of 585 million rupees. The government aims to address these financial challenges through the proposed measures.
PBC’s business plan targets financial sustainability by improving program content and signal quality. The broadcaster plans to exploit unoccupied spaces, including seven large undeveloped properties and six open plots of land, to generate income. “Installing ATM kiosks and billboards at Radio Pakistan locations is part of the revenue strategy,” the Ministry of Finance noted.
The Program and Budget Committee expects to achieve financial break-even within two years if the proposed measures are implemented effectively. Both plans face hurdles identified in the PESTLE analysis, with government censorship often affecting content and limiting advertising revenues compared to private channels.
Despite these challenges, there is great potential for growth. TV advertising spending in Pakistan rose to Rs50 billion in fiscal year 2023-24 from Rs43.4 billion in the previous year. In contrast, digital ad spending fell slightly to Rs 25.25 billion, highlighting the changing market dynamics.
In addition to the broadcaster reforms, the Staff Advisory Councils approved the reconstitution of two main councils. The Board of Directors of Karachi Tool, Die and Die Center (KTDMC) has been restructured and Abdul Razzaq Johar has been appointed as its Chairman.
Likewise, the Board of Directors of the Technology Development and Skills Development Corporation (TUSDEC) was reconstituted, with Mohamed Nour El-Din Daoud appointed as Chairman.
“These changes are consistent with the 2023 State-Owned Enterprise Ownership and Management Policy, to improve corporate governance and operational efficiency,” the Ministry of Finance added. The actions taken by the government indicate focused efforts to address the shortcomings of state-owned enterprises, paving the way for long-term sustainability and profitability.