Pemra Ordinance

Since the liberalization of the broadcast sector in Pakistan in 2002, the media landscape in the country has entirely changed. From one state-run television channel to more than 71 satellite television channels and from one Radio Pakistan to more than 100 FM radio stations, the broadcast sector has increased exponentially over the past few years. The regulations were introduced with the aim of providing an enabling environment for the promotion of an independent and free media. The regulatory framework has managed to improve the choices of people with regards to news and current affairs. Nevertheless, the very objective of promoting independent and free media to foster a democratic society is not very visible. A variety of issues have been hampering the capacity of the regulatory body PEMRA to promote an enabling environment for the development of such media. This article is an attempt to highlight and explain the issues and problems faced by PEMRA. The article also aims at exploring various options to address the issues and problems in a just manner.

The media has multiple roles in creating an informed citizenry, building public opinion and fostering democratic processes. It is thus essential for the development of a democratic society. An environment that can ensure independent and free media is pivotal. Such environment provides the opportunity for the media to inform and educate citizens, increase social interaction, and shape values suitable to democracy. Considering the significance and role of independent and free media in the promotion of a democratic society, the Government of Pakistan in 2002 decided to liberalize the airwaves of the country – and relinquish the statemonopoly and introduced a regulatory framework to issue licenses for electronic media to the private sector. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was established for this purpose under the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002.

PEMRA has a broad range of objectives, including improving standards of information, education, and entertainment; enlarging people's choice of news and current affairs; improving access to mass media at the local and community level; and ensuring accountability, transparency and good governance. The central objective of PEMRA is to provide an enabling environment for the promotion of an independent and free media which is essential for the development of a democratic society. In order to materialize its objectives, PEMRA was authorized to issue licenses to the private sector for broadcast media – radio and satellite television – and distribution stations at international, national, provincial, and local level; and regulate the operation of the licensees. It is important to mention here that, prior to 2002, there were only the state-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) and the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) to ‘inform, educate, and entertain’ the people through the airwaves of the country. During the past few years, PEMRA has managed to improve the choices of people with regards to news and current affairs. A large number of new radio and satellite television channels have appeared in the country and people can get information about events and incidents through various sources. Nevertheless, the very objective of promoting independent and free media to foster a democratic society is not very visible. A variety of issues have been hampering the capacity of the Authority to promote an enabling environment for the development of such media. These issues include, amongst others, autonomy and independence of the regulatory authority; regulatory deficits.

By Zahra Lalani