Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) stops broadcast of BBC news bulletins broadcast by FM stations | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) stops broadcast of BBC news bulletins broadcast by FM stations

Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) has directed a number of FM radio stations in Pakistan to stop broadcasting BBC news bulletins on the ground that they had violated the terms of their license for “violation of the terms and conditions of their licence.”

In a letter issued to FM radio stations on Monday, October 26, 2009, PEMRA said that broadcasting BBC news bulletins was “in sheer disregard of the relevant laws”.

Haroon Rashid, Acting Editor of BBC News in Pakistan told PPF that BBC news bulletins were being broadcast by about 30 FM partners in Pakistan. Out of which PEMRA has stopped broadcast on about 15 FM stations. He said that the reason was that PEMRA required the documents of agreement with BBC from FM partners but these stations had failed to submit the documents to PEMRA. Some of the stations that stopped broadcast of BBC news include FM Hum, FM 103, FM 107, FM 91 Kasur- Okara, FM Highway and FM Gujrat.

Rashid further said that he has talked to Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Thursday, October 29, 2009, who assured him that he will take up the matter with PEMRA reverse the ban as soon as possible. Rashid said that the defaulting FM radios have now submitted the agreement documents to PEMRA and were awaiting PRMRA response.
Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Date:10/29/2009