New PTV chief accused of nepotism

KARACHI - Pakistan Television’s new chairman has started making efforts to aggrandise his position through uncalled incentives to the union leaders and favourite officials at the cost of government funds.
Sources revealed that Dr Shahid Masood has ordered huge increase in the salaries and allowances of some officials violating the advice of relevant section directors that could cost the PTV colossal financial losses.
They alleged that Dr. Shahid Masood is blatantly using PTV resources in his campaign in defiance of the government. The sources further said that PTV chief has given a charter worth Rs 700 million to union leaders and then showed them raising slogans in his favour. He abruptly decided to grant a pay package to the union worth Rs 700 million although the finance and sales directors had refused to oblige due to lack of funds and possible huge budget deficit.
But, Dr Masood told them that he would get it compensated by ending overtime of workers, stopping medical facility and cutting programme expenses. He did the same on 19 July when PM came to deliver his speech.
They said that Dr. Shahid Masood was also repeatedly showing promo of ‘Meray Mutabaq’ taken from GEO on PTV violating the official policy.
Criticising his policy of nepotism, they disclosed that Dr. Masood has issued orders for Rs 100,000/- per month increase in the salary of Director News Sarwar Munir Rao and Rs 50,000/- per month allowance for Sohail Bokhari, his PRO.
Sources further alleged that PTV head wanted to induct five new directors with immediate effect and has instructed Director Administration to issue orders in this regard while the powers to do so rest only with Establishment Division.
It was also told that Dr Masood avoided meetings of the Information Minister held to discuss arrangements regarding PM’s July 19 speech on PTV and sent the Deputy MD PTV to attend the meeting. He mysteriously disappeared from Studio and Control Room during the PM’s live speech and suddenly a technical mishap occurred and the speech was interrupted for a couple of minutes.
Despite the repeated contacts, Dr. Shahid Masood, was not available for comments.