ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said 58 licenses of new TV channels have been granted by the government that will lead to more job opportunities and competition in the media sector.

“Of these, eight licenses are for news and current affairs, 16 for entertainment, 12 for regional, 11 for education and tourism, two for agriculture, five for sports and four for health,” she said while addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Monday.

The special assistant said 587 cases against TV channels were under trial on violation of the Pakistan Electronics Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) code of conduct.

She said a summary to forum media tribunal had been moved to resolve these cases.

Dr Firdous said the PEMRA received 187 applications for the grant of licenses.

She said capacity building courses would be conducted for training of media professionals on quarterly basis.

Turning to political situation of the country, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Prime Minister Imran Khan would never disappoint the people.

She said people would not be duped by opposition’s slogans anymore.