TV channels warned against airing excessive foreign content
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (PEMRA) has issued reminder to Television channels for not exceeding the limit of Indian and foreign content in their daily broadcast.
According to PEMRA rules, TV channels cannot air more than ten per cent foreign content and more than four per cent English content during the twenty four hours. The reminder has been issued after the authority observed that channels were violating the rule.
Earlier, Chairman Authority Absar Alam had said that strict action would be taken against those channels who will violate the PEMRA code of conduct. He said that licence holder TV channels can only telecast the foreign material not more than ten per cent of their transmission and only six per cent of Indian content out of total ten per cent.
PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam warned the administration of television channels and cable operators to voluntarily follow the rule adopted during the Musharraf era, otherwise, a punitive action will be taken from October 15. He said that punitive action will start from fines and may include suspension and revocation of the licence after repeated violations. He had also issued the directives for cable operators to immediately stop airing illegal Indian CD channels otherwise ready to face the music. Authority will also monitor the cable network to close the illegal cable TV channels, he added. He stated that a multi-pronged strategy has been devised to control the import, sale, purchase and use of illegal Indian satellite dishes in the country. He requested the general public to stop use of illegal Indian dishes as it was violation of the law and against the national interests.
Chairman PEMRA said under the strategy, help of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, intelligence agencies, local police has been taken to curb this illegal practice. He said that Federal Investigation Agency will also be approached for ensuring that the business of illegal Indian dishes is banned. He said that the PEMRA will write letters to chief ministers of the provinces, chairman Federal Bureau of Revenue in this regard. He said that 45 days were given to the industry to stop illegal Indian content so that they can adjust their business in time. He said that PEMRA will launch its own Direct to Home (DTH) television system by October this year.
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