Media asked to respect PEMRA’s decisions
ISLAMABAD – Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) Absar Aalam yesterday said the media should respect the decisions of the regulatory authority.
Addressing a press conference, he said that Authority will start issuing licences to companies for establishing and operating Direct-to-Home (DTH) services in the country from October which will help promote culture and national language across the country equally.
He said the PEMRA is taking all steps to stop services of all illegal Indian DTH in Pakistan.
He said that people in remote areas would also be benefitted from DTH services, which would also help improve standard of programmes telecast by the electronic media.
The DTH is a digital satellite service that provides television viewing services directly to subscribers through satellite transmission anywhere in the country. The signals are digital by nature and are received directly from the satellite. The digital signals provide optimum quality in all features and make viewing an absolute pleasure.
He also said he was taking steps to ensure transparency within the organisation so that no one could point finger at it. If any one had objection to PEMRA’s decisions, courts could be approached. The PEMRA respected the court decisions, he added.
He said both PEMRA and media were important for each other. He said in developed countries, the media was free but it showed responsibility.
Absar said those who have objections on the decisions of the authority can knock the doors of the judiciary. He said the private media is enjoying unprecedented independence today because of PEMRA. He said being the fourth pillar of state, media should demonstrate responsibility in its conduct.
He said the owners of media outlets got their machinery and equipment got insured and they should also take such steps for the protection and welfare of their workers.
Talking about the code of conduct, he expressed hope that the electronic media should follow code of conduct and the owners will initiate programmes for improving the professional skills of journalists. He said that no media outlet in Pakistan above the law and PEMRA would take action against all those who did not follow code of conduct without any discrimination.
” 
” 
” 
” 
