Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to keep cheek on ‘objectionable’ stuff
ISLAMABAD- The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will not allow private cable TV distributers to telecast ‘objectionable programmes’, sources at the Ministry of Culture said.
The companies who will get licences to distribute cable TV transmissions would be asked to strictly follow the code of conduct, which is being finalised currently. To check the programmes, a special monitoring centre will also be set up under the supervision of senior officials of PTA and the ministries of Information and Culture, the sources added. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has been authorised to issue licences and regulate this business, besides evolving a code of conduct.
The PTA has received more than 1,500 applications for establishing terrestrial cable TV distribution system in the country. According to the PTA sources these applications werereceived in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. PTA has set up special offices in Islamabad and other cities to deal with the matters of cable TV system. Islamabad received 350 applications, Karachi 675 and Lahore 500 applications on prescribed forms.
The Islamabad office issued forms to the interested companies in the twin cities. It will also deal with the companies in the NWFP as no office was established there. Similarly Karachi will deal with the companies of Quetta.
It may be mentioned here that the PTA has already extended date of receiving applications up to March 25 for setting up terrestrial cable TV distribution service in the country. The proposals are being invited by the PTA in pursuance of’ the federal cabinet’s decision for regulating the operation of terrestrial cable TV distribution system.
The federal cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf had decided to regulate the cable TV trade and directed the PTA to invite applications from interested parties. The cabinet subsequently set up a committee comprising ministries of Communication, Finance, Information and Media Development and Culture to review comprehensively the rules and the specific parameters for the issuance of licenses.
As per the announcement, registered companies or registered firms, having financial capability and technical know-how and experience to develop and establish terrestrial cable TV distribution network can apply for license by March 25, 2000. The applications with requisite information and documents may be submitted to the authority, by the said date, along with a fee of Rs 500 and evaluation fee of Rs 5,000 which is to be deposited to the PTA account No (24600-7) at the National Bank Civic Centre Islamabad.
Offices of directors PTA, Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore has been authorised to deal with the cases.
Source: The News
Date:3/12/2000
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