On CoC’s recommendation, Pemra suspends Axact’s TV licences

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Wednesday approved suspension of licences of BOL TV’s BOL News and BOL Entertainment till fulfilment of legal and codal formalities.
It may be mentioned that Council of Complaints (CoC), Sindh, in its 24th meeting held on August 18, 2015, after granting opportunity of hearing to the PBA under direction of Islamabad High Court in writ petition No.2413/2015 titled ‘Pakistan Broadcaster Association Vs Federation of Pakistan etc’ had recommended suspension of BOL TV licences.
The 106th meeting of Pemra was held at its headquarters here. Four newly notified members from the four provinces also attended their maiden meeting.
The new authority members were appointed by the government on August 12, 2015, for four years term after the expiry of term of previous members.
Pemra executive member/ acting chairman, in his welcome note to new members, expressed hope that new members would work towards greater understanding of the electronic media laws and the authority would benefit from the wealth of their experience and their contribution would help to make the organisation more strong and robust in discharging its regulatory functions.
New members were briefed on Pemra mandate, functions, its laws and regulations. They were also briefed about the new revised Code of Conduct for electronic media notified by the federal government.
To fill the huge vacuum and appetite for kids content, the authority approved grant of Landing Rights Permission to foreign kids channel ‘TOONAMI’.
The authority, while reviewing the licensing policy for Mobile TV (Video & Audio Content Provision) Service Licences, removed the restriction for a licensee to provide services to only one cellular services operator (CSO). The authority also granted two Mobile TV licences, one each to M/s PTCL and M/s Radiance Services (Pvt) Limited. Moreover, Pemra also reduced the tariff for long-term up-linking permission.
The meeting approved all major recommendations of the FM workshops held at Islamabad and Karachi in February & March, 2015, which mainly included regulatory and tariff issues, operational impediments and the capacity building of licensees etc.
The meeting was attended by Pemra Executive Member/ Acting Chairman Kamal Uddin Tipu, Secretary Ministry of Information Muhammad Azam, Secretary Ministry of Interior Shahid Khan and newly appointed Members representing provinces, Mrs. Nargis Nasir (Punjab), Sarfraz Khan Jatoi (Sindh), Ms Shaheen Habibullah (KP) and Munir Ahmed Badini (Balochistan).