Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) in a recent enforcement bid against violating cable TV operators in Southern Punjab including Rahimyar Khan, Sadiqabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, D G Khan, Muzaffargarh, Kot Adu, Layyah, Khanewal, Mian Channu, Bahawalpur, Burewala, Vehari and Mailsi took stern action against nearly 40 cable TV operators who despite repeated warnings were involved in relaying proscribed /banned content and excessive CD channels.
It may be recalled that similar actions were taken by Pemra in recent past in various parts of country whereby hundreds of licences of cable TV were not only cancelled but heavy sums of fine were also imposed on many cable operators for distributing illegal content and channels mostly containing unethical and vulgar content. There were also large number of public complaints against these operators for airing programmes/channels in contravention to the socio-cultural norms and most of the CD channels run by them were illegal. Some cable operators were also found airing illegal advertisements of fake and spurious drugs, quaks and hazardous ointments, which were prohibited by the Ministry of Health and Pemra.
The cable TV networks whose systems were seized included M/s Honey World Cable Network and M/s City Cable Network Rahimyar Khan, M/s Sky Cable Network Sadiqabad, M/s Al-Noor Cable Network, M/s Asian Broadcasting Cable Network Bahawalpur, M/s World Call Cable (Pvt) Ltd, Sunny Cable TV, Shaheen TV Cable, Baloch Cable, Sky Vision International Cable Network, Digital City Cable, Sunny Media Comm., S.S Enterprises Multan, M/s Dhoom Cable Network & M/s Grand Cable Network D.G Khan, M/s Zee Cable Network Muzaffargarh, M/s New Khan Cable Network and M/s New Multi World Cable Network Kot Adu, M/s King Cable Network & M/s Star Cable Network Layyah, M/s B4U Cable Network & M/s Star Cable Network Khanewal, M/s Multi Choice Cable Network Mian Channu, M/s City Cable Network & M/s Ali Cable Network Burewala, M/s Nordic Cable Network Vehari and M/s Khan Cable Network Mailsi.
The press release stated that the cases of all above named cable TV operators would be taken before Council of Complaints established under Section 26 of Pemra law to decide their further fate. They are likely to face heavy penalties, which has become inevitable to abstain them from future violation, said Pemra. The Authority further resolved to continue such action as part of its regulatory obligation.-PR