Pemra monitors cable operators’ service, NA told
JAVAID-UR-RAHMAN
ISLAMABAD – Terming it against the culture and values of the country, a large number MNA from opposition benches criticised the telecast of foreign contents by the country’s television channels.
Expressing deep concern over this practice, the legislators raised voice during the question-hour of the National Assembly session against the telecast of foreign culture and they proposed the action on it.
Responding to the concern, Minister of State for Information Samsam Bokhari said that some cable operators are violating the ban imposed on Indian channels by PEMRA. He said that the code of conduct has been given to all TV channels because we do not want to impose ban on these channels. He also agreed with the members that some dramas and plays telecast by some TV channels were Indian contents and those violated the cultural values of the country.
To a question about a number of complaints, Samsam Bokhari said that the council had disposed of 540 complaints in four months. Due to the financial constraints, the PEMRA cannot afford to launch an awareness campaign, he added.
Samsam said that there were about 2500 cable operators across the country and the PEMRA keeps on monitoring their services and imposes fine in accordance with violation they commit.
PEMRA takes swift action against any complaint received with any particular reference or pinpointing of the violation, adding, “Our action is complaint-driven.” He said that a strict action is taken against cable operators when they play movies and stage dramas on compact discs in violation of PEMRA rules. He informed the House that five councils were operating under the Pakistan Electronic and Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) out of which a council has been set up in each province and the federal capital to address the complaints lodged by the citizens against television channels and cable operators.
Source: The Nation
Date:1/28/2011
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