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Electronic Media Regulatory Authority shortly, says Jabbar

TAHIR DHINDSA

ISLAMABAD: The Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (EMRA) would be formed with in the next few weeks, Advisor to the Chief Executive on Information and Media Development Javed Jabbar told reporters on Monday. It would be placed through an ordinance promulgated by the president of Pakistan.

He said, the final draft of EMRA is being fine tuned by the law ministry in consultation with all concerned parties. The authority is being established at a time when the government is about to take important decision about the fate of the electronic media in the country. Jabbar said, Chief Executive General Parveiz Mushrraf would make an important decision soon, regarding the fate of PTV.

Official sources told Business Recorder that the government is about to announce deregulation of electronic media in the country. Before the actual announcement is made, it wants to put a regulatory body in place, which would watch the interest of all concerned parties i.e. public, government and the investor.

According to the information, the government would ask the incoming investors to allocate some time for the development of social sector. "With out which, Jabbar said, it would be naked profiteering which is a form of injustice." "Commercial interest has to be made subservient to the public interest."

But, before inviting the foreign investment in the field the government would concentrate on expanding the domestic base, so that a competitive atmosphere could be established in the country sources concluded.