DTH, Pakistan’s Satellite Television and Media Project, Closed

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DTH, Pakistan's Satellite Television and Media Project, Closed

ISLAMABAD: The direct-to-home (DTH) project, which is changing the face of satellite television and media in Pakistan, has come to a halt.

According to sources, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has confirmed that the DTH project, which had been pending for many years and was formally auctioned on October 3, 2016 in Islamabad, has closed down.

The project was well-attended by private companies investing in Pakistan, on which three companies made successful bids which were to benefit the exchequer to the tune of over Rs 14.5 billion. However, due to security clearances, the Government of Pakistan refused to issue licenses to two of the companies. One company, however, the Islamabad-based private company, Shahzad Sky Private Limited, was issued the DTH services license last year.

The company was also given the facility to pay 50% of the license charges in cash and the remaining amount in ten-year installments. However, it has challenged the required 20% advance tax in the Islamabad High Court and has not paid the owed amount as of yet.

Sources said that the direct-to-home project runs Indian DTH in Pakistan which is being used by over 7 million citizens. Pakistanis are paying billions of rupees to these Indian channels every month, online and through other means.

Sources further said that the government did its research and homework regarding the project and eventually, the license was given to the private company, Shahzad Sky. However, the company didn’t start its services even after a year, and the license issued by PEMRA expired on February 11, 2020. Despite that, however, PEMRA has allowed the private company to start its service, even though it violates the license’s terms and conditions.

As it stands, PEMRA has not yet confiscated any amount under Section 35 of the PEMRA Government of Pakistan for non-commencement of DTH services by a private company and non-compliance with the licensing rules.

According to PEMRA sources, several notices have been issued to the company but no satisfactory response or performance has been received so far.

When contacted by a private news agency, the PEMRA chairman said that a final decision would be taken at the next board meeting. He stated that DTH is a very important project for the national interests of Pakistan.

“We are in full touch with the licensing company and are giving them repeated reminders,” he said.

“We are trying to ensure that the company does not start services within the current license period,” he added. Only one of the three companies has been licensed so far and this company has to abide by the licensing rules and regulations.

When contacted, Shahzad Sky’s Project Director and Chief Shahbaz Zaheer, gave no response. He was contacted several times.

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