Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has prohibited Television Channels from airing programmes produced by foreign entities “Deutsche Welle”, “Voice of America (VOA)” and “BBC”.
The prohibition orders went sent to “Express News” and “AAJ TV” through two separate letters with the subject “Prohibition order under Section 27 of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007” on May 18, 2018.
The letters stated that “Express News” was airing a programme titled “DW Sawal produced by “Deutsche Welle”, a Germany’s International Broadcaster, on every Thursday at 01:30 pm while “AAJ TV” was airing programmes titled “View 360” produced by “Voice of America” and “Sairbeen” produced by “BBC” on weekdays (every Monday to Friday) at 7:00 pm and 11:00 pm respectively unlawfully without any approval of the authority.
“Therefore, the competent authority in exercise of delegated powers of the authority vested in Section 27(a) of the PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) Act 2007, hereby prohibits broadcast or re-broadcast” of these programmes “with immediate effect”, letters stated.
It further stated that in case of non-compliance of the above prohibition orders, the authority shall proceed against “Express News” and “AAJ TV” under Section 30 of PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (Amendment) 2007.
