The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday approved 13 Radio channels for 24 districts of the NWFP under section 24(2) of Pemra Ordinance 2002.
Formal announcement to this effect was made in a public hearing by Shahid Hamayun, Chairman Complaint Committee of FM radio channel at Pemra in Peshawar wherein licenses were awarded to the successful bidders.
The successful bidders, who took part in the bidding were M/s Birds (Pvt) Limited, Islamabad for District Kohistan, Karak and Buner, M/s Radio Buraq (Pvt) Limited Islamabad for Mansehra and Bannu, M/s Hi-Waves Communications (Pvt) Limited, Peshawar for Charsadda and Swabi, M/s Shamal Media Services (Pvt) Limited Karachi for Peshawar, M/s Grey Matter (Pvt) Limited Rawalpindi for Kohat, M/s Solar Communication (Pvt) Limited, Islamabad for Chitral, M/s Digital Effect (Pvt) Limited, Islamabad for Swat, M/s Yo Yo Tech (Pvt) Limited Multan for Shangla and M/s Roshan Media, Karachi for Nowshera.
Replying queries of journalists, Shahid Hamayun said that legislation was in the process to stop illegal FM radio channels operating in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata). He said, presently, Pemra had no legal authority to take action in Fata and Provincially Administered Tribal Area (Pata) for regulating radio-TV channels.
He said apart from Fata, illegal radio channels were also operating in settled areas for the closure of which provincial governments were co-operating with Pemra. He informed the participants of the public hearing that Pemra had so far issued 86 licenses for radio channels out of which 47 were currently operational. Similarly, he continued, the authority issued a total of 16 TV licenses out of which 10 were operational and the remaining would start functioning soon.
Replying a question about the ban on Indian channels, Shahid Hamayun said the action was taken on reciprocal basis because presently transmission of Pakistani channels in India was not allowed.
Earlier, Director General (Technical) Pemra, Abdul Jabbar informed the participants that Pemra plans to provide FM radio channels at sub-divisional level in the country because these channels are playing a very positive role in creating awareness among masses by investigating social issues.
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