ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has decided to launch a crackdown against illegal Indian satellite dishes and content on television channels and cable networks.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday at PEMRA Headquarters, PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam announced that the authority will ensure that the satellite channels adhere to 6 minutes per hour limit of Indian content in future.
He asked the administration of television channels and cable operators to voluntarily follow the rule adopted during ex-President Musharraf’s era – otherwise punitive action will be taken from October 15.
Alam said that punitive action will start from fines and may include suspension and revocation of the license after repeated violations. He asked cable operators to immediately stop airing illegal Indian channels otherwise strict action will be taken against them.
The PEMRA chairman said that a multi-pronged strategy has been devised to control the import, sale, purchase and use of illegal Indian satellite dishes in the country. He appealed the general public to stop the use of these illegal dishes as it was violation of the law and against the national interests.
He said under the strategy, help of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, intelligence agencies, local police has been taken to curb this illegal practice. He said that Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) will also be approached for ensuring that the business of illegal dishes is banned. He said that PEMRA will write letters to the chief ministers of all the provinces and Federal Bureau of Revenue’s chairman as well.
“45 days have been given to broadcasters to stop airing the illegal Indian content and PEMRA will launch its own Direct to Home (DTH) television system by October this year,” Alam said.
PEMRA’s chairman expressed disappointment over the attitude of the anchor persons of the media who have not done any programme over the Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir as Indian forces were using deadly pellet guns. He said that the regulating authority also plans to take action against morning shows that are violating code of conduct.
