ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra) Chairman Absar Alam, after meeting with chairmen of FBR and PTA has shortlisted 12 companies for bidding of Direct to Home (DTH) service licences.
Talking to the media, Pemra Chairman Absar Alam said the body’s 121st meeting was informed on Monday that 12 companies, of the 16, have been shortlisted for participation in the DTH bidding. He said that the bidding would be held on November 23.
Absar Alam, earlier, discussed the matter with Secretary Ministry of Interior Arif Ahmad Khan, FBR Chairman Nisar Mohammad Khan, PTA Chairman Dr Ismail Shah, Shaheen Habibullah (member Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) and Nargis Nasir (member Punjab).
The 12 shortlisted companies included M/s Orient Electronics Pvt Ltd, Lahore; M/s Mag Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Lahore; M/s Skyflix (Pvt), Ltd, Islamabad; M/s Startimes Communications Pvt Ltd, Islamabad; M/s Sardar Builders Pvt Ltd, Islamabad; M/s Smart Sky Pvt Ltd, Islamabad; M/s Parus Media & Broadcast Pvt Ltd, Islamabad; M/. Naya Tel (Pvt) Ltd, Islamabad; M/s Mastro Media Distribution (Pvt) Ltd, Islamabad; M/s Shahzad Sky (Pvt) Ltd Islamabad; M/s HB DTH Pvt Ltd Islamabad and M/s IQ Communication Pvt Ltd Karachi.
Meanwhile, Cable Operators Association Chairman Khalid Arain asked the Pemra to stop bidding of DTH licences for at least two years.
Talking to the media outside Pemra headquarters, he warned the Pemra that if it did not stop the bidding of the DTH licences, the cable operators will stage a protest across the country. He demanded that the Pemra take action against those selling Indian DTH in Pakistan.
Later, Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar took notice of Cable Operators’ strike call. The Finance Minister fixed a meeting with the Cable Operators on November 18 (Friday) to consider their problems sympathetically. On positive response of the Finance Minister, Cable operators postponed their strike call, said a statement of ministry of finance here.
