Pemra to grant temporary FM licences in AJK and Northern Areas
ISLAMABAD, October 21 2005: Pemra, as a special measure, has made arrangements to grant FM Radio licence in AJK and Northern Areas within next three days to meet the urgent information needs of the affected people, said a Pemra spokesman on October 20.
Recalling the efforts of Pemra, spokesman said that Pemra Law as promulgated in 2002 did not extend to AJK and Northern Areas. However, Chairman Pemra realising the importance of electronic media in this area, recommended to the Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Bodies in May 2005, that the law may be extended to AJK and Northern Areas.
The Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Bodies approved the recommendation of Chairman Pemra. After which the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs co-ordinated and Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council approved the extension and application of Pemra Law to AJK.
The Ministry also approved its applications to Northern Areas. This was a landmark decision of Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Bodies chaired by the Prime Minister.
The spokesman further said that ‘Expressions of Interests’ (EOIs) for the establishment of FM Radio Station in AJK and Northern Areas were invited in early September 2005. PEMRA received encouraging response from the area and 21 parties submitted their EOIs just before the earthquake struck the area.
“Normally it takes a couple of months to complete the formalities to obtain a FM License but due to the current crisis if any body wants to get FM radio station license temporarily, he can apply immediately and Pemra has made arrangements to grant license within three days of the security clearance by the concerned quarters”.
Licenses would be issued temporarily for a limited period so that the affected people could be advised and informed about important post-disaster measures and precautions to be taken besides apprising them on the relief strategies and progress, he added.
Pemra would also assist the applicants in every possible manner for early operation of the FM station.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:10/21/2005
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