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Day: August 25, 2013

Vital and essential role of state-owned electronic media

Thus, to recap: One view about TOR No. C is that, “Yes”, that the government and its instrumentalities have a valid right and role to be major players in electronic media and that this presence is entirely consistent with the fundamental right under Article 19 which it does not contradict in any way. From this viewpoint, it is stated that, particularly with the advent of privately-owned electronic media in Pakistan onwards of 2000-2002 with the predominant content and tone of the private electronic media being extremely critical and harsh about the Government-of-the-day, the presence of the State-owned electronic media under

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A response to this particular Term of Reference No. C

A response to this particular. TOR No. C is already partly covered by the Observations and Recommendations for TOR No. A. Further, other aspects of TOR No. C e.g. with regard to whether the Government or its instrumentalities should be major players in the media through State television and radio broadcasters will also be partly covered by Observations and Recommendations being made by the Commission for TOR No. D which will follow immediately after this brief section on TOR No. C.

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TOR No. E

Minister or a Minister for visits such acceptance of complimentary support also erodes the capacity for independent journalism. Acceptance of secret payments from institutions other than the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in the public sector e.g. other Ministries and Departments, civil and military intelligence agencies or the private corporate sector. 4. Prevention of independent scrutiny of print and electronic media. 5. Notable number of media professionals possess integrity and competence. The response by the Commission to TOR No. F as provided by the Hon’ble Court is meant to cover those aspects of media and those persons related to the

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Reforms required in policies and actions should be addressed

Views held and expressed by civil society organizations, specially forums engaged with women’s empowerment, human rights, children’s rights, minorities’ rights and other advocacy groups about reforms required in PEMRA’s policies and actions should be effectively addressed through a process by which PEMRA invites these forums for regular exchanges of views.

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Actions to prevent the smuggling and open sale of DTH

To enable PEMRA to credibly curb the telecast of pirated / smuggled / illicit content from India, USA, and other sources, other government entities, Federal and Provincial such as, the Federal Board of Revenue / Customs, Federal Investigation Agency, Police Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies should take visible actions to prevent the smuggling and open sale of DTH (Direct-To-Home) set-top boxes from India.

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PEMRA, PBA, COA, PAS, AAP need to review policies and practices

To enable fair, cooperative, non-litigious regulation by PEMRA, Pakistan Broadcasters’ Association, Cable TV Operators Association, Pakistan Advertisers’ Society, and Advertising Association of Pakistan need to review their own existing policies and practices. This should ensure compliance by their members of their respective obligations to render public service duties and provide public interest content. Media should demonstrate complete transparency in rates charged for advertising, in time devoted to commercial content and programming content, and in fulfilling terms and conditions of licenses and other aspects of their social responsibilities.

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PEMRA should formulate policy for unfair impact of foreign content

Till the time that the proposed new legislation and restructuring of PEMRA is agreed upon and implemented: To encourage and promote the rich reservoir of talent and skills in the Pakistani people for creative drama, entertainment and content with tasteful popular appeal, PEMRA should formulate an appropriate policy that protects producers, directors, writers, actors and other segments of creative professional teams from the unfair impact of foreign content that is dubbed into Urdu and freely broadcast by TV channels, thus, reducing the time, rates and income for indigenous Pakistani talent.

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Directions that should be made to PEMRA

PEMRA should be directed to formulate a fair, transparent policy to issue licenses on a non-auction basis, without applying a commercial approach, for community-based electronic media. PEMRA should be directed to revise its discriminatory exclusion of NGOs registered as social welfare associations, societies, trusts, not-for-profit joint-stock companies from being eligible applicants for community-based electronic media. PEMRA should be directed not to disqualify applicants on the basis that they are the recipients of funding support from multi-lateral institutions such as United Nations Agencies, regional organizations such as European Union or friendly foreign countries. Safeguards can be enforced to prevent community-based electronic

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Recommendations of the aims expressed in the legislation and models of regulatory forums

(i) Based on a comprehensive appraisal of the original aims expressed in the legislation that introduced private electronic media to Pakistan, and with reference to models of regulatory forums in countries with democratic systems, the Commission makes the following Recommendations for the consideration of the Hon’ble Court and for the consideration of the new National Assembly elected on 11thMay,2013 which, with the already existing Senate, represents the new Parliament of Pakistan. (ii) There is an urgent need to revisit and reconstruct the laws, regulations and rules by which PEMRA exists and functions. (iii) Elements that should shape amendments to the

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