ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF REGULATING

CONTEMPORARY MEDIA
Some points
 Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was set up in March,
2002mainly to award licenses, regulate the media and keep an eye on the
private channels. Its objectives are to;
1) Improve the standards of information, education and entertainment.
2) Enlarge the choices available to the people of Pakistan in the media for news,
current affairs, religious knowledge, art, culture, science, technology, economic
development, social sector concerns, music, sports, drama and other subjects of
public and national interest.
3) Facilitate the devolution of responsibility and power to grass-root at
community level.
4) Ensure accountability, transparency and good governance by optimizing the free flow
of information.
 The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was set up under the
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (the PEMRA Ordinance) and has the
command to direct the establishment and operation of all broadcast media and
dissemination services, which are controlled in terms of the PEMRA Ordinance and the
rules and regulations framed thereunder (the PEMRA Laws). PEMRA controls the
dispersion of foreign and local TV and radio channels in Pakistan.
 Media improve the knowledge of public and communicates all the happenings to the
public. Media industry of Pakistan is developing quickly with much potential and
apparently bright future ahead. Media should not utilize negative instruments to extend
their viewership.
 In Pakistan, media is working freely and independently. In the case of electronic media,
there are a number of channels are working including news, sports and entertainment
channels. It is the responsibility of media to highlight those issues which are good for
the public and discourage unethical components of the society. In some cases, media
besides spreading the root causes of any issue it contributes to multiply wordings over
some issue and crises. Media should be exceptionally delicate while presenting its
nation towards the world. Our media tells the world what precisely we are, what are our
standards, values and culture. Being an Islamic nation, our media should represent us in
a great way towards the world.
 It is developing as an advocate of allowing the individuals their essential rights. By
bridging gaps based on cultural contrasts, it is leading to tackle and cultivate national
 solidarity. Media has made progress and has picked up popularity by vocalizing the
public grievances and issues. It has the capacity to impact the public by spreading
awareness particularly on political rights and responsibilities of the people. It is like a
watchdog for government as well as non-government institutions.
 This was not the first time when media related laws were promulgated in Pakistan.
Various laws relating to media and journalists were introduced during the dictatorial
regimes and the elected governments. The West Pakistan Press and Publications
Ordinance, 1963 and the Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Services) Act, 1973 are
among the most important legal instruments. However, except the Newspaper
Employees (Conditions of Services) Act, 1973, none of the media related laws were
debated in the Parliaments. The laws include the following:
a) The Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Services) Act, 1973
b) The Press Council Ordinance, 2002
c) The Press, Newspaper, News Agencies and Books Registration (PNNBR) Ordinance,
2002
d) The Defamation Ordinance, 2002
e) The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002
In addition to the above list of laws, there are several acts and ordinances, which
contain various provisions dealing with the media. These laws include but not limited to:
a) The Pakistan Penal Code, 1860
b) The Telegraph Act 1885
c) The Post Office Act, 1898
d) The Contempt of Court Act, 1973
e) The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Ac, 1996
 The government of Pakistan recently passed a new set of regulations that critics say will
give the government more control over how Pakistanis can use social media. The
"Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020" oblige social media platforms
like Facebook, Twitter and Google to block or remove posts that are considered
objectionable by the government. The government can also acquire data and
information from the companies.
 The role of mass media in Pakistani society is tri-dimensional that is informing the
public, educating the unknowledgeable and providing entertainment. A survey
conducted by Gilani Research Foundation, which carried out by Gallup Pakistan revealed
that more than half (52%) of all Pakistanis consider media to be a source of awareness,
while 29% believed otherwise.
 No doubt it includes a part of positives and it has become a solid source of information,
but the problematic region starts when professional ethics become hostage to ratings
and in the process fake news, fake data replace genuine ones. The media is not assumed
to set the agenda, but its prime responsibility is to provide 'factual data and news based
on realities. Precision is key to news coverage.
 Introduction of misshaped content is another imperfection which is leading the
audience and readers to lose believe in media. In Pakistan, there are numerous
programs being circulated which attempt to bend and distort the facts for their own
purposes. They never delay to follow these acts for making media hype for their possess
benefit. They have only concern with program ratings which never permitting them to
even think about media ethics and responsibilities.
 Part of media in Pakistan is getting very irresponsible; as there are so numerous talk
shows and political debates on the screen all the time and in some cases, they seem to
be crossing their limits. Media should work in its limits and agreeing to some rules and
regulations. Other than spreading misrepresentation, Pakistani media should resolve the
matters with a positive demeanor. Media is supposed to be capable of the present
society, trends, standards, values and so on. Individuals are what they see, around
them. Media reflects the society and it is the responsibility of media to uncover the
nation to the entire world.
 To be a dynamic part of society, citizens must educate themselves to distinguish
between the news with the agenda and the news which are really attempting to
illuminate their citizens. Indeed conventional news media presently is beginning to act
and stream like social media.
 PEMRA has provided on its website Consultation Paper No. Web&OTT/1-2020 in
relation to consultation on regulating the Web TV & Over the Top TV (OTT) Content
Services. The consultation paper states that the extensive growth of Web TV and OTT
market and the excessive disruption of these services to traditional broadcast services
have made regulators vigilant all over the world. It further states that it is the
responsibility of PEMRA to provide a level playing field to all. OTT and Web TV operators
are competing for the same advertisement or subscription revenue as licensed
operators; therefore, it is imperative that the services be regulated at par with other
services.