The Government of Pakistan has started an extensive strategic program to modernize the State broadcaster Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) on the modern standards of digital broadcasting. During a high-level ministerial convergence in Islamabad, the Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar looked at a proposed overhaul. The main agenda focused on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) with funding from the government for modernization of PTV. Both leaders agreed unanimously that PTV is a very important national asset and that there is an urgent need for its enhancement in terms of its technical capacity without compromising on its legacy.
PTV Modernization: Information Minister Highlights Critical Technical Gaps
During the operational briefing, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar emphasized the urgent need for structural and technical support from the Ministry of Planning. He pointed out that to compete effectively with aggressive private media networks, PTV requires immediate capital injection and expedited project clearances.
Minister Tarar presented an operational wish list that was targeted to address longstanding logistical challenges:
Immediate and critical need is to upgrade PTV’s basic Master Control Rooms in all the Regional Centers to state-of-the-art High Definition (HD) and 4K digital infrastructure, Tarar said.
Establishing Local Broadcasting Networks in Gilgit-Baltistan: The Information Minister highlighted a major logistical gap regarding the live coverage of international sporting events in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Currently, PTV is forced to transport heavy Outside Broadcasting (OB) vans all the way from Islamabad to GB whenever an international event occurs, leading to excessive wear, delays, and drain on public funds. Establishing a permanent, local broadcasting base in GB will structurally eliminate this operational friction.
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives @betterpakistan and Minister for Information and Broadcasting @TararAttaullah held a meeting today.
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) August 4, 2026
They discussed in detail the proposed project for the revamping and modernization of PTV under the Public Sector… pic.twitter.com/RpA60BkQgK
Preserving National Identity: Ahsan Iqbal Assures Administrative Support
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal assured the ministry that the state network would be provided with the best global facilities in the wake of the technical improvements offered by the ministry. Iqbal noted that commercial media is more focused on ratings and income while PTV has always served Pakistanis with its core function of building national identity, safeguarding ideological debates and creating national unity.
He assured that the modernization initiative would be evaluated on a priority basis under the PSDP allocation framework. This plan will not merely focus on hardware upgrades but aims to transform PTV into a smart media network. The upcoming phases will see the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), modern automated graphics systems, and advanced digital newsrooms across PTV studios, enhancing Pakistan’s global public diplomacy and narrative building.
