66 illegal FM radios closed

PESHAWAR—Regional General Manager PEMRA, Javed Iqal said Sunday that 66 illegal FM radios have been closed while efforts are being made to close 22 more illegal FM radios in NWFP.
Talking to reporters, he said a list of 88 unlawful FM Radio had been given to police authorities according to which 55 illegal FM radios were closed in the first phase and 11 in the second stage due to the effective efforts made by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and police. The Regional GM PEMRA said most of the religious organizations have extended their full cooperation to PEMRA and closed their illegal FM radios when they were told about its harmful effects including obstruction in the country’s satellite system.
He said PEMRA has acted only against the operatives of those organizations who did not cooperate and hence subsequently their illegal FM radios have been closed to ensure the smooth running of the system. To another question, Javed Iqbal said all the FM Radios operated under a particular religious organizaion in Malakand are also closed. Regional GM PEMRA said the transmitters and machineries of all those FM radios closed in Mardan, Swabi and Charsadda districts have been taken into official custody.
He said 17 licenses for FM radios have been issued in four phases for different districts of NWFP against whom five FM radios are presenting working while the remaining would starts its transmissions soon.
Javed Iqbal said licenses have been issued to Peshawar, Abbottabad, Lakki Marwat, Mardan, Haripur, DI Khan, Kohistan, Karak, Bunir, Manshera, Swabi, Charsadda, Kohat, Chitral, Swat, Shangla and Nowshera.
He said licenses for FM radio have also been issued to the University of Peshawar and campus radio and both of them are currently broadcasting their programs.—Agencies