PESHAWAR: The wrangling between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) over the functioning of a non-commercial FM radio station at Mardan has further intensified as the latter has now also raised objection to the three proposed FM stations of the provincial government in other districts.

Official sources revealed that despite repeated requests by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Department the Pemra had been showing reluctance to issue a licence of non-commercial FM radio station, which had already been functioning for last over six years in Mardan district.

In different communications, the provincial government continues to cite multiple reasons due to which the FM radio stations are required in different districts, especially for reforms in various sectors.

Govt argues such radio stations needed to promote reforms, discourage extremism

However, Pemra in its letter on March 18, 2015 stated that as per policy in vogue, one institution/organisation shall be allowed a maximum of one non-commercial FM radio licence whereas one such licence had already been issued to the KP directorate of information for Peshawar and thus the licence for another FM radio station at Mardan was regretted.

The Pemra, in one of the letters sent by an assistant general manager (licencing) on April 23, 2015, to the information directorate, stated that temporary licence was granted to the non-commercial FM station in Mardan which had expired on Dec 22, 2010. The directorate was asked in that letter to stop the “illegal FM radio station” before taking up any other case for the award of licence.

An official privy to the controversy told Dawn that the refusal by Pemra was in violation of Article 159 (broadcasting and telecasting) of the Constitution which gave the provinces the right of establishing own transmitters and could not be unreasonably denied.

The controversy took another turn on July 6, 2015 when the Pemra’s director general (licencing) sent a letter to the KP chief secretary raising objection to the setting up of three proposed FM radio stations in the financial year at Abbottabad, Swat and Kohat, for which Rs224 million was earmarked in the budget.

The KP government has brushed aside all the objections of Pemra and quoted different provisions of law as well as the benefits which could be achieved through setting up of FM radio stations in divisional headquarters of the province.

In reply to the July 6 letter, the KP government’s secretary information, Mohammad Abid Majeed, sent a letter on July 24 wherein he had cited several benefits of the proposed radio stations. He also explained that the radio stations at Peshawar and Mardan had been airing public service messages on array of subjects, including female education, Islamic values, tolerance, tree plantation, health, citizen rights, anti-corruption, child labour, blood donation, environment, etc.

“The importance of radio as a medium of communication, especially considering the geography of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, cannot be overemphasised and therefore the provincial government supported the establishment of two FM radio stations, the Pakhtunkhwa Radios FM 92.2 Peshawar and FM 92.4 Mardan. Considering the importance of this medium the futuristic reform initiatives of the KP government envisions establishing such structure at each individual divisional headquarters in the province,” the letter said.

The FM radio, it said, would be used for relaying social messages concerning issues such as fight against polio, and promotion of health and education to a sizable population, and more importantly to the womenfolk at their homes whose access to information otherwise in a traditional society was severely limited.

It said that anti-extremism messages, government’s initiatives, reforms and achievements would be communicated to the people of province.

It referred to different special programmes, aired on occupational hazards/diseases, and preventive measures at workplaces, etc. Similarly, when the incident of Army Public School in Peshawar occurred, the Pakhtunkhwa radio produced and aired various programmes to counter the narrative of anti-state elements.

In another letter sent to Pemra in May 2015 the information department stated: “Everyone knows that KP has badly suffered due to terrorism and is still confronted with the threat of extremism. Therefore, Pakhtunkhwa Radio Mardan, the signals of which are received in parts of Malakand division and tribal regions and also in some areas of Afghanistan can substantially contribute to the promotion of peace in this region.”

The provincial government now awaits reply of Pemra on the said letter.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2015

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