Parliamentary committee unanimously approves former information secretary for top media post
A file photo of Ambreen Jan. PHOTO: PTV
Ambreen Jan, former federal information secretary, has been chosen as the new chairperson of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), a move that will make her the first woman to head the electronic media regulator once her appointment is confirmed.
The decision was taken on Friday at a meeting of a parliamentary committee chaired by Shehbaz Babar, which was convened to appoint the next head of the influential media regulator. The committee unanimously approved Jan’s name.
Following the approval, his nomination was forwarded to President Asif Ali Zardari for final confirmation.
The post had remained vacant since the retirement of former Pemra chairman Mohammad Saleem Baig, who was appointed in 2018 and resigned last year.
Jan is a 22nd grade ex-officer with extensive experience in the media and information sector. She previously served as director general of state broadcaster Pakistan Television, director general of Radio Pakistan, and press adviser to Bangladesh during a period of tense bilateral relations from 2011 to 2018.
She was shortlisted along with four other candidates for the post, including Brigadier (retd) Anwar Ahmed, Mateen Haider, Irfan Ashraf and Dr Hamid Khan.
