Mass media is a wholeseller of Mass Communication. International Trend played important role in development of Mass Media in Pakistan but the Initial decades of Pakistani Media’s history have been dominated by PTV, which was introduced as a state-controlled medium and to date a corporation of the state where the Board of Governors are appointed by the Government of Pakistan, control its affairs. As a result, the programs aired were all governed by the government and there was no sign of freedom of expression.
In Kargil war, India was able to sell its viewpoint to the world and cashed on its version while Pak suffered since it had only the state channel. A few channels were also there like STN,NTM and PTV World, but they also had major government shares.
However, this proved to be insufficient. Increasing globalization and market forces ultimately prevailed and in January 2002, Musharraf government approved an ordinance allowing independent electronic media.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) established in March 2002 under the PEMRA Ordinance. It was initially placed under the information ministry but was later shifted to the cabinet division in line with the government’s policy of ensuring the neutrality of regulatory authorities.
For the first time in the history of Pakistan, a law acknowledges the right of private citizens to use the air-waves of the country for the operation of privately-owned radio stations and TV stations. Also for the first time, the law permits electronic media to broadcast news bulletins other than those originated by the Government-controlled PTV and PBC.
The Authority is responsible for facilitating and regulating the establishment and operation of all broadcast media and distribution services in Pakistan. It allows all cable operators to broadcast channels according to PEMRA permission, and to issue license to every channel owner in the country. The license has certain expiry date after which the channel owner has to renew the license by paying some charges on it.
PEMRA imposes certain obligations on channel owners to provide authentic information to their viewers and also to improve the standard of entertainment. Basically PEMRA is increasing the number of channels by providing licenses to new channel owners for the effective projection of transparent and realistic media in Pakistan.
PEMRA also focused on providing better media facilities to every person of Pakistan, by minimizing the cable charges so that a middle man can easily afford. Through this approach every person can increase its knowledge about what’s going on in Pakistan and the rest of the world; and trying to create a great sense of responsibility in every citizen of Pakistan.
PERMRA made certain criteria for the channel and channel owner’s eligibility, under which:
• It must be a company or a body corporate, incorporated in Pakistan with
SECP and not an individual;
• Should not include Member s /Directors / Shareholders who are not citizens of
Pakistan or resident in Pakistan;
• Should not be recipient of funds from a foreign government or organization;
• Should not be a firm or company the majority of whose shares are owned or controlled by foreign nationals or whose management control is vested in foreign nationals or companies;
• Should not include a person or persons who already own or operate, as sole or
Joint shareholders, any other broadcast station, printed newspaper or broadcast station.
Due to pressure from existing media groups in Pakistan, such as the Dawn Group of
Newspapers, the government has been forced to consider amending the PEMRA Ordinance,
2002. As a result, amendments were made in the ordinance under the name PEMRA Bill, which was passed by the National Assembly in 2007 highlighting:
• PEMRA is to regulate all electronic media as opposed to only broadcast media
• Media owners can own more then one media organizations
• PEMRA and government will jointly decide the terms and conditions
• PEMRA will issue licence to all electronic media outlook, weather it be a broadcaster or a distributor
• PEMRA will now regulate the distribution of local as well as foreign channels.
• PEMRA will have the right to inspect the licensee’s premises and equipments
• PEMRA can seize any of the electronic media organization if not found complying by the code of conduct prescribed by PEMRA.
The legal framework provided by PEMRA is still cutting an introductory stage to sophisticate the media activities; but long mile stones has yet to cover by the media itself carving own internal controls to avoid repercussion and to register civic positivity in later aspect.
Regards,
Roshni Zahid
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