Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Iftikhar Rashid said that the Authority had a role of 'referee' and its laws were being amended to make the organisation more effective and strong. Presiding over the first-ever meeting of Council of Complaints of Federal Capital and Rawalpindi here on Wednesday, he said Pemra's ultimate objective was to introduce self-regulation to ensure projection of programmes based on ethical values.
Underlining the role of Council of Complaints of regulating cable operators he said the Council would meet on regular basis to address public complaints against cable operators.
Iftikhar Rashid said there should be constant interaction between Pemra, Complaint-Council members and cable operators to ensure smooth working.
The Chairman quoted lack of monitoring system, equipment and necessary staff for non-effectiveness of Pemra. He said most of the cable operators were working according to rules, regulations and code of ethics provided by Pemra but still there were some complaints about few cable operators.
Rashid said Pemra rules and regulations were being amended to make the Authority more effective in resolving the complaints of viewers and provide best possible assistance to cable operators to continue their work.
Referring to a query about advertisement control on TV channels, he said Pemra had no authority to control these advertisements.
The members of the Council of Complaints who attended the meeting included Mir Jamil-ur-Rehman, Commissioner of Council, Laiq Ahmad, Ms Huma Baig and Raja Javed Akhlas. President Cable Operators Association Rawalpindi-Islamabad Captain Naveed Akbar and General Secretary Imran Nadeem also attended the meeting and assured their full co-operation to implement Pemra rules and regulations.
Later talking to APP, Chairman Pemra, Iftikhar Rashid said his main priority was to simplify the procedure for the operation of television channels and radios through providing them all facilities and permits. He said Pakistan's image could be projected in a better way with open media policy.
"I have suggested some changes in the laws of PEMRA Ordinance to make it more effective organisation and discussed the changes with Minister of Information and Broadcasting" he said adding that it would promote enlightened vision of the country.
Replying to a question about starting of Direct to Home (DTH) TV by two private TV channels who had been issued licenses by Pemra already, Chairman said that a meeting of the Authority would be held next week to take final decision on this issue. To another question about permitting Indian TV channels, he said that government had to take decision on this issue and Pemra was responsible to implement it.
He said that there were about 1000 licensed cable operators in Pakistan and many other unlicensed operators adding that he would take steps to bring all the unlicensed operators under the network of Pemra to regularise their activities.