Pakistan

Pemra to crackdown on Indian DTH, channels in Pakistan

Measures being taken are intended to curb use of illegal Indian satellite dishes in Pakistan

News Desk September 01, 2016

Measures being taken are intended to curb use of illegal Indian satellite dishes in Pakistan. PHOTO: REUTERS

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has decided to crackdown on illegal Indian satellite dishes and content on Pakistani television channels and cable networks.

Chairman PEMRA addressing Press Briefing announcing Policy about Illegal Indian DTH & content on TV channels & Cable pic.twitter.com/EyWmKFKdRj
— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) August 31, 2016

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"Pemra will take strict action against all those TV Channels which have been continually violating the code of conduct," Chairman Pemra Absar Alam said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday. "Only license-holder TV channels can telecast foreign content and Pakistani TV channels can air Indian content with less than 6% of total air time, starting October 15, 2016." Any additional airtime for Indian or foreign content on local TV channels will result in legal action from Pemra, he added.

Alam informed that the measure being taken was intended to curb use of illegal Indian satellite dishes in Pakistan. "I urge the people to stop using illegal Indian dishes as it is in utter violation of the law and against the national interest." He urged the Pakistani television channels and cable operators to voluntarily follow the set rules and regulations, failing which punitive action will be taken.

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In response to a question, the chairman said that Pemra will get assistance from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), intelligence agencies and local police to effectively keep check on those violating the law."The FIA will also be approached to ensure that the business of illegal Indian dishes is banned," he added.

Alam said Pemra will write letters to chief ministers of the provinces and the Chairman Federal Bureau of Revenue on the matter. "Pemra has granted 45 days to the industry to stop illegal Indian content." He informed the regulator will launch its own Direct to Home (DTH) television system by October this year.

COMMENTS (16)

Jam Shaheen | 7 years ago | Reply "The Chanels Wich Allowed In Pakistan Is Only Ary Chanels.

sajid | 7 years ago | Reply It is not fair to banned something without offering alternative service of this first pemra or governament should establish a suitable service for public then ask the people to support a Pakistani services .But according to recent pakistani environment this law will b used to tease or blackmail the people

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whats in the name | 7 years ago | Reply Applies to IRF Peace TV Zakir Naik..?... OK it is not down linked from India Any more.... But curiosity got the better of me....

coolboy | 7 years ago | Reply I urge the people to stop using illegal Indian dishes as it is in utter violation of the law and against the national interest.” hahaha what a silly minister who does not even know dishes dont come from India only STB come. And he should ask where from? it is Afghanistan.

Mahesh | 7 years ago | Reply Don't know if this ban will be successful. If the people want to see the indian channels then it will fail. There has to be some acceptable alternative to indian channels.

London Banker | 7 years ago | Reply Where is my comment for this article please and can I also know what part of my comment violated your editorial guidelines?

Hassan | 7 years ago | Reply No, No Indian content should be allowed, we have a better television Industry then what is the need to run their channels, our serials and programs are never based on religion but their serials are considered incomplete without all those pooja paat and bhajan. this is not good for our children, even kapil sharma and big boss have indecent content, what participants do r highly indecent and represent their culture, which is of course pathetic, although this is not even Indian culture but they have happily adopted western.

Hina | 7 years ago | Reply Kapil Sharma & Big Boss show should be allowed. I agree.

FaiselH | 7 years ago | Reply Its time Pemra stops the news channels from playing indian songs as backgrounds to their 'breaking news'. This sensationalizing is pathetically unprofessional. Its seems the news producers have been picked up from stage drama producers.

karachi 7 | 7 years ago | Reply What about Indian movies that are shown in movie theaters in Pakistan?.

Simon | 7 years ago | Reply Excellent move PEMRA. This should have been done a looooooooong ago. Never mind late is better than never. KUDOS.... :)

Economist | 7 years ago | Reply Today no one can ban any foreign content as it's readily available on internet. By bringing this 6℅ cap move prema is actually giving more encouragement to DTH.

Noman | 7 years ago | Reply u can watch only. Traffic should be two way not one way.

abreez | 7 years ago | Reply Good step, time to promote Pakistani channels as all these channels create economic activity in Pakistan. My cable operator offer 80 channels and I have child lock on 40 channels because of this ‘foreign content’.

Mohammad | 7 years ago | Reply Please allow Big Boss new season.

Riaz | 7 years ago | Reply Please don't block Kapil Sharma show.

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