ISLAMABAD, July 31: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Tuesday granted licences to three more TV channels Waseb, TV One and Rung TV, a mobile TV licence to Mobilink and landing rights to 11 foreign channels.

The authority also approved 297 fresh cable TV licences which were being run illegally.

Briefing journalists after the authority’s meeting, Pemra chairman Iftikhar Rasheed said the decisions had been taken to ensure the principles of fairplay and competition among electronic media players.

The authority examined the current status of electronic media in the country and resolved to maintain a level playing field for all media operations.

With the grant of three more TV licences, the number of private TV channels in the country has increased to 26.

Pemra had earlier issued a mobile TV permission to Telenor.

The Pemra chairman said steps were being taken to regulate the private broadcasting sector.

He said that efforts to regularise illegal and unlicenced operations would continue till the introduction of true regulatory framework in the county.

He said that the authority had also decided to finalise a precise programme content code for FM radios.

He said that the authority had decided not to permit any FM station to air foreign programme or content in deviation of its prime objective of providing local community-based programmes.