PEMRA to crackdown against illegal Indian content

PEMRA to crackdown against illegal Indian content

ISLAMABAD: (APP) Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in its meeting here Monday decided that only that much Indian television channels and content would be allowed, which is permitted by the Indian government to Pakistani media, artists and dramas.

The 119th meeting of PEMRA Authority was held at PEMRA headquarters.

The authority decided that Indian channels and content should only be allowed when India would allow airing of Pakistani channels and content.

In this connection, a summary has been sent to the federal government in which it is clearly recommended that transmission of Indian channels and content should be made subject to permission of showing of Pakistani content by India.

These recommendations will result in completely ending the policy given in the era of General Pervez Musharraf and will promote Pakistani media industry.

After October 15, according to PEMRA laws indiscriminate action will be started against all illegal content channels and content.

PEMRA is in contact with all federal and provincial governments and is determined to make the campaign successful and effective.

The unjust policy started in the period of General Pervez Musharraf damaged Pakistani art, music, film, drama and culture and a historic and unanimous decision has been taken to end it.

The airing of Indian content was allowed by government of Shaukat Aziz and now only federal government could take a decision on it.

Till the annulment of this decision, television channels, FM Radios and cable operators will be restricted to show only six percent of their transmission as Indian content.

PEMRA also announced a policy regarding Landing Rights. Under the new policy, fees will be considerably decreased and all phases will be made easy so that more international channels can be aired in Pakistan and viewers get better and quality entertainment.

While approving the policy, the authority expressed the wish that channels focusing on education, research and environment sciences should be promoted so that youth could be attracted to education and research and their potential is utilized positively.

The meeting was chaired by Chairman PEMRA Absar Alam and attended by Secretary Interior Arif Ahmed Khan, Secretary Information Saba Mohsin, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Nasir Muhammad Khan, Shaheen Habibullah member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Nargis Nasir member Punjab and Sarfraz Jatoi member Sindh.