Electronic media to provide healthy entertainment: Iftikhar
ISLAMABAD,February 12,2005:The expansion and independence of the electronic media will enable the public and private sectors to jointly safeguard the national values and promote the national ideology.
Iftikhar Rashid stated this in a special interview with ‘The News’ after assuming charge as chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra). “We have to prepare the electronic media to meet the challenges besides providing people healthy entertainment so that Pakistan’s image as a moderate and enlightened state could be highlighted,” he said.
The Pemra chairman said the rules that were framed to regulate the electronic media in the private sector three years ago would be reviewed and improved by removing the legal loopholes. He said the electronic media is rapidly growing in the private sector. “We will take such steps to facilitate this sector that can help manage the affairs in a better way, as the might can never be remedy for all the ills,” he said.
Iftikhar Rashid said that besides the public demands, the protection of national interests and cultural values would be ensured, and a balance between the two spheres would be maintained. He said the grievances of the cable television operators would be redressed. He said that legal action would be taken against those airing illegal programmes, and a new system would be devised for this purpose. “We are neither living in an extremist society nor can ignore our cultural values to emulate others,” he asserted.
To a question, the Pemra chairman said that 15 licences have so far been issued to operate television channels in the private sector and nine of the licence holders have started their operations. Similarly, he said, licences have been issued for 50 radio channels and 25 of the licence holders have started operations.
“We will introduce rules for cancellation of licences of the parties that will fail in launching their radio or television channels in a fixed period.
The Enforcement Wing of the Authority will be made more active and effective. I have assigned the director general enforcement the first task to collect data on unregistered cable operators across the country. We will register them and regulate operations of the private media so that real objectives of the establishment of Pemra are achieved,” he said.
The Pemra chairman, responding to another question, said that issuance of radio and television channels would also be made easier.
Source: The News
Date:2/12/2005
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