Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has not banned 35 foreign channels but they have been put off air temporarily, Shahid Humayun, the executive member of PEMRA, has said.

Talking to journalists, Humayun said that the authority had told foreign channels to get landing rights to broadcast their transmission in Pakistan otherwise the authority would put them off-air. He said 50 percent foreign channels had applied for so far and the authority had taken action against rest of the channels.

He said that the authority did not believe in pre-censorship but it had given broad outlines to licensees in the form of code of conduct for self-regulation. He said the foreign channels which contravene the authority’s rules and regulations would be proceeded against.

He said that the PEMRA was determined to promote and develop the electronic media in Pakistan. He said that the government has permitted the private sector to establish radio channels in Pakistan for the promotion of local content and to educate, inform and entertain the people.

He said the authority had so far issued licences to 16 TV channels and out of them 11 channels had started their transmission. He said that about 90 licences for FM radio stations had also been issued and out of them 40 stations had gone on air.

He said the authority had taken number of steps to control obscenity and pornography and taken action against illegal cable TV operators across the country.

He said the authority had made arrangements to grant licences within three days to set up FM radio stations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Northern Areas. He said licences had been issued temporarily for a limited period so that earthquake victims could be advised and informed about important post-disaster measures and precautions to be taken.