Chaudhry Rashid new Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority chairman

By: Muhammad Saleh Zaafir

ISLAMABAD: Federal Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Rashid Ahmad has been appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) with immediate effect.

The Establishment Division has issued the notification pertaining to his appointment, and he will assume charge of his new assignment on Monday. He is a professional who has vast experience spread over more than 10 years of media dealing as a career officer and was made the head of the organization that is responsible for the uplift and promotion of the electronic media.

Chaudhry Rashid Ahmad, who had earlier served in vital and high profile media handling assignments with a fair amount of success, including being the principal information officer (PIO), Government of Pakistan, He has held the posts of senior joint secretary, Ministry of Water and Power, and also held posts of director general, internal publicity; chairman, National Press Trust (NPT); managing director, Shalimar Recording and Broadcasting Corporation (SRBC); director Press, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; director, Press Information Department; director, Information Service Academy; Press Counsellor, Embassy of Pakistan, Tehran (Iran); and Press attaché, Pakistan High Commission, Colombo (Sri Lanka). He also held the post of executive director, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

Chaudhry Rashid Ahmad has attended courses related to administration and leadership in Indonesia and the United States. He recently visited China and played important role in enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and China in the sphere of media. He was appointed secretary Information and Broadcasting in July last and since then media affairs have attained remarkable smoothness.

Soft spoken and media friendly Chaudhry Rashid Ahmad is being termed as the best choice and some quarters of the media have appreciated his nomination since he is viewed better than seven other contenders for the slot speculated earlier.

The coveted slot of Pemra chairman is tenure post of four years. It is understood that Chaudhry Rashid Ahmad would greatly help the media betterment since he believes in decent manner.

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