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ISLAMABAD: Information and Broadcasting Minister Senator Shibli Faraz said a debate on the rebuilding and restructuring Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) had been deferred to the Cabinet's next meeting.

Faraz was speaking to the media after a Cabinet meeting earlier today wherein restoration of the public institutions was discussed. "The PTV used to be a great institution with an illustrious history like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).”

"These all were symbols of [Pakistan's] honour. As time passed, however, the successive governments, instead of strengthening and improving these institutions, took them to destruction.

"The PTV then became an institution wherein there were political hirings [including those] from the PPP and the PML-N. The mismanagement and meritless hirings consequently brought the institution down to the ground," he noted.

The minister added that the PTI-led government now required a huge investment in order to rebrand the PTV as the state's representative and a voice of Pakistan.

"We also cannot pay the pensions because of a large number of pensioners — at least 3,000 — who have yet to be paid pensions. So, to fix all the management and technical issues, including outdated cameras and no production work going on, we are forced to come to this decision, rather proposal.

"Now, as far as building and restructuring is concerned, planning has already been completed," Faraz said, adding that nothing could be done without the resources, especially when the issues of pensions, salaries, and new equipment had to be solved.

"Obviously, that requires a big investment and there will be further discussion on this matter [later] and opinions will be sought. Therefore, the matter has been deferred to next week.