Interview at PEMRA

What is the role of PEMRA?

PEMRA was established in 2002. It is a public organization under the Information Ministry. It has a regulatory role in electronic media namely cable TV, satellite TV and FM. Regulation of internet does not come under PEMRA.

What are the operations of PEMRA?

PEMRA deals with Council of Complaints (COC), passes budgets and deals with both Provincial and Federal electronic broadcasts. PEMRA monitors the TV channels and is in contact with channel operators. PEMRA also issues licenses to channels to air in Pakistan.

How are complaints launched and what is the monitoring mechanism that prevails?

Common modes of launching complaints include email, phone calls and even in person at our offices. Whenever someone lodges a complain we monitor the content closely to see If any objectionable material is being broadcasted. If we find something objectionable we issue notices to the channel operators and call them up. A good example would be that of Mathira. We got many complaints about her show. Have you seen what sort of a vulgar show she hosts? That is not what we want to teach our kids. We called the people running that show and gave them a notice.

Does PEMRA function solely or in collaboration?

PEMRA works in collaboration with two organizations:

PBA (Pakistan Broadcasters Association) which deals with satellite TV and FM radio;
Cable Operators Association of Pakistan which includes cable providers like WorldCall.

Does PEMRA share a healthy relationship with its collaborative?

It does with PBA but not with Cable operators Association of Pakistan. During President Musharraf’s government, PEMRA had control over the cable operators but the change in government has given much power to cable operators who do not miss any chance of targeting PEMRA.

How does PEMRA regulate foreign channels and their content shown on domestic channels?

PEMRA issues 2 types of licenses.

Direct; When TV channels open up in Pakistan like HBO PAKISTAN. A code of conduct is imposed on them and percentage of content is told to broadcast.

Foreign; Landing rights are given to channels who broadcast from abroad. We check their content to see if it’s appropriate to allow to be shown.

Initially licenses were given to any channel and it was left to the market to decide which one would stay and which would shut down according to popularity but now its properly monitored and agreements are signed before handing over licenses.

Highlight the legislations of PEMRA

Some of the factors we consider are that the broadcasted media should:

Promote local culture;

Respect state sovereignty;

Have diversification and variety;

Highlight religious and social concerns;

Refrain from vulgarity;

Provide entertainment and educational programs.

Enlighten us with some more examples of complaints launched

Broadcast of blood and body parts, like after a terrorist activity or accident. The gore is disturbing for young children and old, aged people.

Breaking news which creates panic and later does not turn out to be true, like news about bomb blast which turns out to be a tyre burst.

Profit making has become the primary aim of the channels and hence they sensationalize news. We keep warning them about it from time to time.