G-8 meeting

African cynicism toward the recent meeting of the Group of Eight most powerful, industrialized nations increased as six of the continent's leaders walked around Sea Island, Georgia, like photo op tokens.

While British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, pushed for an agreement that would effectively extend debt relief for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), U.S. President, George W. Bush, had his own agenda to seek relief for Iraq's incurred US$90 billion debt. Somewhere in between, Africa's problems had to be addressed.

Seeing that the Blair plan is not officially confirmed it does seem as though we find ourselves in familiar G-8 terrain: Vague promises, no commitments and the U.S.'s agenda yet again dominating G-8 talks.

If Africa is holding out a begging bowl, should the members of the G-8 assist the debt-riddled continents, and if so, at what cost? -- ThisDay, Johannesburg, South Africa

An unfair levy

The proposal to include TV license fee in monthly electricity bills is both impractical and unfair. The assumption that all power consumers using more than 100 units of electricity own television sets and should be charged a monthly TV fee means that those who don't own TV sets will now have to run from pillar to post to have this levy waived.

It also gives those consuming less than one hundred units an exemption that is unjustifiable in that the bulk of them are also likely to own TV sets. The existing system under which TV set owners buy their licenses and inspectors make random visits to check them is a more practical arrangement.

In a world where most countries have abolished TV licenses, there are many who argue that TV license fee should be charged only if the state owned electronic media do not air advertisements, as in the case of the BBC. This is clearly not the case in Pakistan where a major part of PTV air time goes to advertising and sponsorships.

Reports say that despite an income of two billion rupees in 2003, PTV suffered a loss of Rs343 million because of stuck-up recoveries of over Rs1.2 billion. If the government wants to increase PTV's revenue, it should start by taking steps for the recovery of unpaid dues rather than taxing TV owners.

The information ministry's proposal for resuming cigarette advertising on PTV is unacceptable for reasons of public health. For PTV to generate more revenue on a longer-term basis, more attention needs to be paid to the content of its programs, which will certainly help strengthen PTV's pull as an advertising medium. -- The Dawn, Karachi