Formation of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Complaints Council soon
KARACHI- The formation of Council of Complaints of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) is in the offing and will be announced soon for all the four provinces.
The Pemra Chairman, Mian Mohammad Javed, stated this after chairing public hearing with regard to the grant of licence to applicants for setting up of seven FM Radio Stations in Karachi on Friday. It was the third public hearing held by the Pemra.
Earlier, two meetings were held in Islamabad and Lahore. The next two meetings will now be held in Peshawar and Quetta.
In the public hearing, the participants showed their complete confidence in the process for grant of licences by the Pemra and described the same as totally transparent.
Mian Javed said that these four Provincial Complaint Councils would come into being as per provision of the Pemra Ordinance.
It would be in addition to the Pemra’s Regional Office, which would also perform the function as monitors.
He said these councils would receive complaints in case there were objections against programmes of FMs, TV and cables in the private sector.
Mian Javed pointed out that out of a total of 30 licences, to be granted for establishment of FM Broadcasting Stations, seven would be granted in Karachi, followed by four for Lahore, three for Faisalabad, three for Rawalpindi/Islamabad, two for Peshawar, two for Quetta and one each in Multan, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Gujrat, Vehari, Gwadar, Lakki Marwat, Abbotabad, Muridke and Changla Gali.
The approved licensees would have to set up their station within one year of the grant of licences, he said. Mian Javed explained the salient points of the code of conduct chalked out to govern the operation of FM Broadcasting Station licensees.
To a question, he said, the Pemra would grant licences for Satellite TV stations for which applications had been invited. He pointed out that September 23 was the last date for receipt of applications and these were now being scrutinised and the process would be finalised within a fortnight.
During the public hearing, the participating public members called for strict enforcement of code of conduct for cable operators, and suggested that there should be minimum parameter for their guidance.
The prospective bidders, out of 16 applicants for grant of licence for FM Broadcasting Stations, are Kohinoor Airwaves, Digital Effects, Karsaz Trading, Shamal Media Services, Vactra Com, Merewether FM Radio, Habib FM Pvt Ltd and Trade Serve International.
None of the participants during public hearing raised any objection against the successful seven bidders. The Pemra Secretary, Saleem Gul Sheikh, accompanied the Pemra Chairman, during public hearing.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:9/29/2002
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