During a nation-wide action against airing of illegal and proscribed TV channels by cable TV operators, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has confiscated equipment of several cable TV networks.
According to a Pemra statement, despite repeated warnings by the Authority various illegal and proscribed channels are being run by Cable TV operators in all parts of the country.
As per Pemra laws and policies, relaying illegal satellite TV channels and excessive CD channels beyond the permitted limit, showing Indian movies on cable networks is an illegal activity and a peril to the society. Moreover, relaying illegal channels and movies on cable TV networks is deemed main source of content piracy and needs immediate steps by the Authority to stop such irregularities.
During the routine enforcement drive, gadgets of most of the cable TV operators, which were running illegal satellite TV channels were partially confiscated whereas some cable networks were completely seized by Pemra inspection teams.
The Pemra also impounded illegal DTH (Sahara, TATA Sky, BIG TV and Dish TV), which were installed by the cable TV operators for the purpose of distributing illegal channels through their respective networks in the cities of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Bahawalpur, Multan, Okara, Sahiwal, Kasur, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jehlum, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Abbottabad, D.I.Khan, Sargodha, Peshawar, Mirpur, Gilgit and other areas. The Pemra had time and again warned cable TV operators across the country to observe the law.