Starting October 15th, 2016, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority started a crackdown against cable operators that were showing Indian channels through Indian DTH in Pakistan.
PEMRA had earlier issued a deadline of October 15th, 2016 after which all Indian DTH services and Indian Channels were supposed to go off-air.
In a statement issued today, PEMRA said all cable operators are being monitored for airing any Indian Channels through DTH or otherwise. “Only channels with landing rights are allowed to be shown in Pakistan”, said the statement.
PEMRA enforcement teams, along with police, raided various cable operators and confiscated any Indian DTH receivers, equipment.
PEMRA said that more than 90% cable operators had already shut-down Indian DTH services while remaining are being raided to ensure that no DTH operator is showing Indian channels to their customers.
PEMRA said that it will be cancelling the licenses of Cable TV operators for any violations.
PEMRA Enforcement Teams Confiscating Indian DTH Equipment
It maybe recalled that only following foreign channels have landing rights in Pakistan:
No other Indian or any other foreign channel is allowed for broadcast in Pakistan.
PEMRA said that its team have already completed the visits in Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Kohat, D.I.Khan, Hazara Region, Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Sukker, Larkana, Tando Allahyar, Mirpur Khas, Sialkot, Norowal, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Liyya, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Jehlum, Attock, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Okara, Attock and Kasur.
It maybe recalled that TV channels are also asked to not to air Indian, foreign content more than the allowed limit of 6% Indian and 4% English content in a day.
Similarly FM radio channels are also limited to not to air Indian, foreign content more than the allowed limit.
PEMRA said that any violation by TV channels, FM radio channels will be dealt strictly.