20 companies apply for FM radio licences in AJK, Northern Areas | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

20 companies apply for FM radio licences in AJK, Northern Areas

ISLAMABAD, September 26 2005: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has received Expression of Interest (EOI) from 20 parties interested in setting up an FM Radio Station in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Northern Areas.

Abdul Jabbar, PEMRA Technical director general, said on Sunday September 25 that new FM Radio licences would be given in smaller towns especially Northern Areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to authority’s rules and regulations, he said each company will get a license to set up an FM Radio Broadcast Station for five cities. He said the Azad Kashmir University had also applied for licences for educational purposes. He said the authority had encouraged educational institutions, particularly universities’ to use electronic media to spread education and training in this sector.

Eleven educational institutions have been given licences to set up FM Radio stations to start educational and professional training programmes for their students, he said.

He said PEMRA had invited the expression of interest from companies in AJK for the issuance of local area/ community based licences to establish FM Radio Broadcast Stations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He said the licences would be awarded under the provision of the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002 as adopted by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Electronic Media regulatory Authority (Adaptation and Extension of functions to Azad Kashmir) Act 2005.

He said the licences would be given to set up FM Radio stations in Muzaffarabad, Hattian, Athmuqam, Rawalakot, Hajira, Abbaspur, Bagh, Haveli, Dhirkot, Pallandri, Mirpur, Dudial, Bhimber, Barnala, Samahni, Kotli Fatehpur, Sehnsa, Poonch and Sudhnati. He said, as per the government’s policy, the authority was taking steps to provide more options to people in the broadcasting sector.

He said the government had issued licences to provide education and entertainment and to cover local issues.

He said this would not only promote local products but also boost tourism in the area. Dr Abdul Jabbar said the authority had also decided to award new licences for 47 cities across the country. He said that the authority would also provide Cable TV operating licences in AJK and Northern Areas to bring at par with rest of the country.
Source: Daily Times
Date:9/26/2005