Illegal cable broadcasts: PEMRA destroys confiscated equipment

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Wednesday destroyed equipment confiscated from several cable TV operators in the twin cities used for distribution of illegal channels through their respective networks.

Pemra Licensing DG Wakil Ahmed Khan said that the action was taken to discourage airing of illegal and proscribed Indian TV channels.

He said despite repeated warnings by the authority various illegal and proscribed channels were being aired by cable TV operators in all parts of the country.

Khan said that the Pemra impounded illegal DTH (Sahara, Tata Sky, BigTV and Dish TV), which were installed by the cable TV operators for the purpose of distributing illegal channels through their respective networks.

“Equipment has been confiscated in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta too, and would be destroyed in similar ceremonies,” he added.

Khan said that the Pemra would launch its own direct-to-home dish antenna next year, which would help fight the tendency of illegal dishes.

He said that the Pemra was in contact with law enforcement agencies to stop illegal smuggling of Indian dish antennas.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2015.