Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Wing to crackdown on illegal and unlicensed web channels.
The media regulatory authority has issued the directions under the orders of the Supreme Court. According to Chairman PEMRA Muhammad Saleem, PEMRA has been taking several measures to eradicate fake news. This step is also an attempt to curb the publication of baseless news.
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The PEMRA report also reveals that the authority has issued 618 show cause notices and warnings to various TV channels over violation of the stipulated moral code of conduct. Furthermore, it has banned 25 programs and ads for the same reason.
According to a press release, PEMRA has suspended the licenses of 13 TV channels while fines worth Rs. 106.53 million has been imposed.
The authority has also inspected 18,494 cable TV networks, seized 1,967 systems, and imposed fines worth Rs. 13.656 million. Around 80 foreign channels, broadcast illegally on cable networks, have been shut down as well.