The President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, has approved the summary for the appointment of a new chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media and Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). Ambreen Jan will be the next chairperson of the institution.
According to a post shared on X by the Pakistan Television (PTV) News, “The President of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, has approved the summary of former Secretary Information, Ms Ambreen Jan, as Chairman PEMRA.”
First female head of PEMRA
Ambreen Jan is expected to become the first woman to lead Pakistan’s electronic media regulator after her name was approved by a parliamentary committee and sent for final confirmation.
Once the approval process is completed, she will take charge of PEMRA, marking a first in the organisation’s history.
The position has remained vacant since the retirement of the previous chairman, Muhammad Saleem Baig, who stepped down last year after completing his term.
Govt confirming appointment
A parliamentary committee, chaired by Ch Shehbaz Babar, met to select the new head of Pemra and unanimously chose Ambreen Jan for the role.
Officials said her name has now been forwarded for final approval. Reports indicate that the confirmation process is underway, after which a formal notification is expected.
Jan was selected for the post on January 2, 2026. If confirmed, she will replace Saleem Baig, who was appointed chairman in 2018 and retired after completing his tenure.
The committee considered several candidates before reaching a consensus, reflecting what officials described as a smooth and unanimous decision-making process.
Career of new chairman
Ambreen Jan is a former Grade 22 officer with a long career in public service and media management.
She has previously served as managing director of Pakistan Television (PTV) and as director general of Radio Pakistan. She also worked as press counsellor to Bangladesh during a period of strained diplomatic relations between 2011 and 2018.
Her experience across state-run media organisations has been cited by officials as a key factor in her selection for the role.
Jan was shortlisted alongside four other candidates: Brigadier (retd.) Anwar Ahmed, Mateen Haider, Irfan Ashraf and Dr Hamid Khan. After reviewing the candidates, the committee agreed on Jan as its preferred choice.
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