PEMRA Annual Report 2010
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INSIDE Vision & Mission 02 From the Chairman 04 The Authority 05 An Overview of Current Status of Electronic Media in Pakistan 15 Regulatory Process, Code of Conduct & PEMRA’s role in 24 Broadcast/Distribution Services New Office Building & Monitoring Set up 31 Operational Activities of PEMRA during 2010 36 PEMRA Offices 41 Licensing Regime 44 Financial Activities for the financial year 2010 50 Future Plans/Ambitions 55 Complaints Handling Mechanism 59 Pictorial Review 2010 62 Annexes I 67 Annexes II, III, IV, V, VI, VII 77 Acronyms 92 Editorial Board 93 VISION To employ electronic media as a dynamic platform guided by the past, responsive to the present and geared towards the bright future. To uphold the principles of national unity, cultural diversity, equality, freedom of expression, access to information and a level playing field for all media players. This solemn vision will have to be actualized by bridging the digital divide for integration of haves and have nots nationally and globally to reach Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) by the year 2015. MISSION To facilitate and promote a free, fair and independent electronic media with a dynamic self-regulatory mechanism in Pakistan to protect interests of all the stake-holders. 02 03 FROM THE CHAIRMAN In a world influenced by satellite and cyber-space technology, electronic media has a highly significant role to play in shaping the life and destiny of nations. The visual media, notably Mr. Mushtaq Malik Chairman television, has a stupendous, impact upon moulding human minds and opinion. In the given Although there is a debate in the country as to scenario the electronic media has an onerous what media should telecast and what it should responsibility in addressing the socio-economic avoid, I think the issue will always remain problems of societies and disseminating controversial. We at PEMRA believe in the power unbiased information. This responsibility can be of television and new technologies to bridge effectively shouldered if the media treads the information divide, promote diversity, and path of accuracy and objectivity in transmission encourage respect for all segments of society. It of its programmes. has been noted that the degree of responsibility Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority that the media was expected to demonstrate is (PEMRA) has completed 8 years of its existence. missing. Quest to break news and taking edge During the year 2009-10, PEMRA continued to over other channels sometime results in false and play its role as a liberal regulator committed to inaccurate reporting. There has been facilitate and promote free, fair and independent improvement but it will take some time for our media and to protect the interests of all stake media to exhibit the extent of maturity that is holders including the general public. With the expected of it. democratic Government in place, the role of Self regulation is the need of the day, we have media has become even more important. It is always encouraged TV channels to exercise self believed that information is the oxygen of regulatory regime. It was in this background that democracy and dissemination of information some of the major news channels devised a helps build public opinion. voluntary code for the coverage of certain Over the last few years the media industry has activities including acts of terrorism. They are no attracted a lot of private investment and has also longer telecasting gory scenes and airing made a significant contribution in the GDP of the clippings of injured people with amputated country. According to an estimate there has been limbs. At the same time we are quite mindful of a cumulative investment of approximately U.S the fact that channels should respect public dollar two billion in the electronic media industry opinion with a greater sense of responsibility and in Pakistan. New jobs to more than 200,000 responsiveness to socio-economic and political people of diversified skills and qualifications have needs of the country. been provided. In addition, over 7 million people I see a bright future of the organization in the have been accommodated through indirect days to come and pray for its growth to become employment. This expansion in investment even more vibrant and dynamic in providing would in turn have a multiplier effect on media regulatory services to the country. I also increasing job opportunities for skilled media take this opportunity to thank the Government, personnel and journalists, expanding work of the members of the Authority and all my fellow media production houses, advertising agencies colleagues for their continued guidance, and proliferation of the performing arts. patronage and support. 04 THE AUTHORITY 05 THE AUTHORITY COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONING Pakistan Electronic Media Telecommunication Authority Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) (PTA) and Chairman, Federal is an authority established Board of Revenue (FBR). under PEMRA Ordinance, 2002 Seven Members are appointed to regulate private electronic from amongst the general media in Pakistan. The authority public. In this context, eminent is headed by a Chairman citizens having expertise in the appointed by President of field of media, law, human Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It rights and social services are consists of twelve Members and chosen. Representation from all the Chairman. The Executive the provinces is ensured while Member of the Authority is a nominating these members permanent Member. In besides selecting minimum two addition four of the Authority female members to ensure members are ex-officio women representation in the members including Secretary, Authority. These Members Ministry of Information and including the Chairman are Broadcasting, Secretary, Interior appointed for a period of four Division, Chairman, Pakistan years. 56th Authority Meeting 06 07 AUTHORITY MEMBERS Mr. Mushtaq Malik Dr. Abdul Jabbar Mr. Mansoor Suhail Chairman Executive Member Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Chairman, PEMRA Mr. Mushtaq Dr. Abdul Jabbar is performing Mr. Mansoor Suhail, assumed his Malik is a well known financial his duties as Executive Member role as an Ex-Officio Member of expert having represented of PEMRA since September 29, PEMRA on October 28, 2010. He Pakistan at several international 2008 besides holding charge as is an officer of the Information finance/ monetary forums. Director General of Technical Service currently holding the He has served several Provincial and Operation Wings. He charge of Secretary, Information and Federal Government received his Ph.D. and Broadcasting. He has a rich Departments in the capacity of (Superconducting Electronics) and distinguished career Federal Secretary, for from Shanghai University of spanning over 33 years working Investment (BOI), Additional Science and Technology, China on diverse range of information Secretary, External Finance, in 1992. He got his Masters in positions within Pakistan and Financial Advisor, Economic Business Administration (MBA) abroad. Minister, Embassy of Pakistan, in Utility Regulation Some of his important Washington D.C, Managing Management from The assignments as an officer Director and Deputy Secretary University of Lahore. He holds include his position as before taking charge as Professional Diploma in Human Additional Secretary, Ministry of Chairman PEMRA on February 9, Resource Management from Information & Broadcasting, 2008. NUST. Director General of the External He holds a Masters Degree in Before joining PEMRA he served Publicity Wing, Director General Economics with majors in Pakistan Telecom Authority Public Relations, Punjab and International Trade and Finance (PTA) as Director, International Director Media, Pakistan Cricket from Boston University, USA Liaison, Director, Technical Board (PCB). besides an MBA in International Studies, Director, Radio Based Mr. Mansoor Suhail has also Business Management and Services, and Director, served as Press Minister and Marketing from the same Engineering. Counselor in Pakistan Mission to University. He has participated in several the United Nations, New York, national and international where he got elected as Mr. Mushtaq Malik has attended training workshops and Chairman of the UN Committee several International conferences. His research work on Information for two years Conferences and has has been published in well besides holding its represented Pakistan, known international journals. vice-chairmanship for five years Afghanistan and Nepal in IDA and thus has played a major role forum of the World Bank. in formulation of international media policy. 08 Major (R) Qamar Zaman Ch. Mr. Sohail Ahmad Dr. Mohammad Yaseen Ex-Officio Member/ Secretary Interior Ex-Officio Member/ Chairman, FBR Ex-Officio Member/ Chairman, PTA Major (R) Qamar Zaman Ch. is a Mr. Sohail Ahmad is an Ex-Officio Dr. Mohammad Yaseen seasoned Civil Servant who has Member of PEMRA since May 18, Chairman Pakistan served as Additional Secretary 2009. Telecommunication Authority Interior before being promoted He joined the 1979 batch of Civil (PTA) is also the Ex-Officio to Secretary Interior on Servants in the District Member of PEMRA since July 24, September 5, 2009. Since then Management Group. Since then 2008. he is an ex-officio Member of the he has held various field, staff He received his Ph.D. from Authority. and policy assignments. University of Essex, England, He carries with him the honour He holds Masters Degree in with specialization in to be an Alamgirian, being a English Literature from Telecommunication Systems in cadet of renowned and University of The Punjab. He has 1992. He won Ministry of prestigious Military College, been teaching at Gordon Science and Technology Jhelum. College, Rawalpindi before scholarship in 1987 after Mr Qamar Zaman, in his capacity joining the Civil Services. He graduating from DCET (NED). as Pakistan’s Additional completed his Masters in Public He has been working as Senior Secretary at the Interior Ministry, Management from Research Officer, at the Essex has been working for the SAARC Carnegie-Mellon University, University and as System and member countries to remove Pittsburgh PA, USA in 1986. Project Engineer at Alcatel hurdles in the way of traveling to Some of Mr.