PEMRA to grant temporary FM radio licenses to AJK within 3 days
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—PEMRA, as a special dispensation, has made arrangements to grant FM Radio Licence in AJK and Northern Areas within three days to meet the urgent information needs of the affected people; this was stated by a spokesman of PEMRA.
Recalling the efforts of PEMRA, spokesman said, PEMRA Law as promulgated in 2002 did not extend to AJK and Northern Areas. However, Chairman PEMRA realizing the importance of Electronic Media in this area, recommended to the Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Bodies in May 2005, that the law should be extended to AJK and Northern Areas. The Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Bodies approved the recommendation of the Chairman PEMRA. After which the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs coordinated with the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council approved the extension and application of PEMRA Law to AJK. The Ministry also approved tits application to Northern Areas. This was a landmark decision of Cabinet Committee on Regulatory Bodies chaired by the Prime Minister.
The Spokesman further said that Expressions of Interests (EOI's) for the establishment of FM Radio Stations in AJK and Northern Areas were invited in early September 2005. PEMRA received encouraging response from the area and (Twenty One 21) parties submitted their EOI's just before the Earthquake struck the area. Normally it takes a couple of months to complete the formalities to obtain a FM Licence but due to the current crisis if anybody wants to get FM Radio Licence temporarily he can apply immediately and PEMRA has made arrangements to grant Licence within THREE (3) DAYS of security clearance by the concerned quarters. Licenses would be issued temporarily for a limited period so that the affected people could be advised and informed about important postdisaster measures and precautions to be taken besides apprising on the relief strategies and progress, he added. PEMRA will also assist the applicants in every possible manner for early operations of the FM Stations.