ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) banned the use of drone cameras by TV channels in the wake of the Pakistan Day parade scheduled for March 23.

“The concerned authorities have been directed to shoot down drone cameras of TV channels if used despite this warning,” Pemra spokesman said in a statement. The decision was made after the regulatory authority held a meeting with senior law enforcement officials in Islamabad.

In the meeting, it was decided that licences of TV channels found guilty of breaching the directives may be revoked, followed by heavy fines.

It was also noted that the use of drone cameras around the world is regulated; but TV channels in Pakistan have been using the technology without a regulatory framework.

The Pemra spokesman said the authority realised that amid a fragile security situation in Pakistan, the possibility of a terror activity in the guise of drone cameras or helicams cannot be ignored.

The spokesman said Pemra had already decided that no licensee shall be allowed to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or Quadcopter helicams unless authorised by the local administration of the area where the UAV was to be deployed.