DW delegation calls on PEMRA Chief
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—A two-member delegation led by Guido Bamhauer, the Managing Director of Strategy, marketing and Distribution of Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany) along with Nadeem Wahid Siddiqui, Country Representative DW Pakistan called on the Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Iftikhar Rashid to discuss various issues of bilateral importance pertaining to the existing and future growth of electronic media in Pakistan.
The Chairman PEMRA briefed the delegate on the role and contribution of authority in the growth of private electronic media in country in a short span of few years.
He described the performance and achievements of PEMRA in terms of licensing including satellite TV, FM Radios, DTII, MMDS, Teleport earth station and IPTV licenses.
He also entailed the initiatives of PEMRA that are underway to bring the latest media form and technologies to Pakistan. He apprised them about contribution of authority in identifying and closing down more than 2500 illegal cable operation and about 156 unauthorized FM Radio stations across the country for churning hate material.
Ascribing PEMRA policies, Iftikhar Rashid said that PEMRA believes in policy of “Self Regulation”. The unprecedented growth and healthy competition in electronic media today is result of progressive and facilitating PEMRA policies that are crafted in close consultation and coordination with stakeholders, he said.
He said that the given tariff subsidies and the simplified licensing criteria for prospective entrants to this arena which were deeply appreciated by the DW team.
The DW delegation highly lauded the contribution and ardent policies of PEMRA Chief for successfully implementing the open door policy not only for local but also for foreign media operators.