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Although Pakistan medias struggle to create its independent space dates back to the days of the military dictator Gen. Zia-ul Haq, it is with the opening up of the electronic media that the scale and scope of the medias impact on society has been the most profound. Pakistan, lying within the zone of global disorder, has also produced a less noticed spectacular feat: The challenging of strangleholds that impede a societys intellectual evolution, block its cultural creativity and weaken its sensitivity. Indeed media alone have facilitated this process. Tapping the intellectual energy generated from the tensions of a state and society in transition, uncovering the immense creative energy and recognizing the unhinging of control paradigms dictating global affairs, Pakistans media entrepreneurs have combined the advantages of technology with the available market opportunity to create this incredible media revolution. Electronic media is now facilitating development of Pakistans art and culture. It allocates large chunks of time to entertainment programs. The power scene and political landscape, which includes the unconstitutional power managers and the constitutional political players, are thoroughly and candidly reflected in the media through news reports, columns, editorials, interviews and discussion programs. Numerous political events including back channel meetings and negotiations are regularly reported often pushing the uniformed and civilian players to explain, if not justify, their moves. Although media reporting does not alter the moves made by either party, it does expose public to reality of Pakistans power play and politics. National security has been broadened to look at nonmilitary issues focusing on internal causes of threat to state and society be it political, economic, cultural or social development deprivation. Significantly media has brought a national debate on the national language of Urdu. Previously most debates were restricted to English print media or the state-controlled Pakistan television. Media have brought opinions from ideologically and politically opposed camps on a common platform. Extreme views and final truths do not stand the test of facts and holistic perspectives. It challenges the power of the strident and self-serving within the national and international context. Media are the other collective power that challenges global and national state power. Ultimately the media of Pakistan have not only publicized the other side of official truth like the Iraq war, the Palestinian issue, the selective application of objectives like distractions of the

weapons of the mass destruction, at home it has also broadened space for inclusive politics, creative culture and a conscious intellect. The growth of media especially in electronic domain; its profile: makeup and interests represented; the emergence of media as a new power house together with inherent limitation; and the concept of responsibility in the democratic order have been noticed in all sections of the society. There are certain realities and electronic medias mindset and peculiarities, which to some extent are universal. In the last 50 years the media influence has grown significantly with the advance of technology, first there was the telegraph, then the radio, the newspaper, magazines, television and now the internet. PTV has been a great source of entertainment. TV has also effectively disseminated information on a variety of subjects to its viewers. However, the objectives set out for PTV at the time of its inception were: Instruction and enlightenment. Enrichment of knowledge and information. Wholesome entertainment. Promotion of national outlook and integration. Presentation of news in a fair, objective, factual manner free from deception by implication and omission. The electronic media is a business, a billion dollar industry and thus its primary motive remains to earn money and not harmonize the society. Due to intense competition in the field of electronic media industry, media has to be competitive; to be Exclusive and First. The electronic media often looks for controversy, sensationalism and negative news to make headlines. In some cases the electronic media feels that it has the right to interpret what is good or bad for society using its own standards. Functions of electronic media: To Provide Information: The provision of reliable verifiable; adequate and complete information is one of the primary functions of the electronic media; objectivity is expected in arranging information for the population. To Provide Education: The electronic media can become a powerful and economical tool for education and has a great potential if used imaginatively and with vision. The media can also be used to raise awareness and educate the masses to overcome various social problems and development of civic sense. To Influence Public Opinion: The revolution in information technology and potential of media to influence and analyze various national and international issues, suggest various options, weigh the best option to arrive at the correct solutions to guide their audience.

To Entertain: The electronic media can cater for a wide range of entertainments for tastes and requirements of almost all the segments of the society. The most critical obligation of electronic media is to act as the custodian of the facts. There are certain realities and electronic medias mindset and peculiarities, which to some extent are universal. The electronic media is a business, a billion dollar industry and thus its primary motive remains to earn money and not harmonize the society. Due to intense competition in the field of electronic media industry, media has to be competitive; to be Exclusive and First. The electronic media often looks for controversy, sensationalism and negative news to make headlines. In some cases the electronic media feels that it has the right to interpret what is good or bad for society using its own standards. The electronic Media was primarily and popularly used by our previous regimes as tool of selfpropaganda, the quality of news poor, unreliable and un-imaginative presentation of events and stories, ultimately losing the confidence of general public. Introduction of Satellite TV, Cable and Private Channels and Dish widened the scope of awareness of people. The Government of Pakistan realized the sensitivity and potential of private electronic media which could not be avoided through State controlled TV only. The governmental policies regarding electronic media took a different direction, to regulate this sector.