THIS refers to the report ‘Indian DTH (direct to home) equipment worth Rs.78.3m seized’ (Nov 8). It is very difficult to comprehend how the transfer of technology can be stopped in this day and age.

I remember that in the ’70s/’80s, a similar hue and cry was made when people brought VCRs in the country through unconventional means, many of which were confiscated by the overzealous authorities by trespassing private residences in the name of saving moral and cultural values.

The authorities concerned are at fault as the illegal business is flourishing because the government has failed in the last three years to process the DTH bidders for legal use in the country.

People by nature hardly wait for the government procedure to be completed for acquiring advanced technology which they procure from wherever it is available to keep themselves abreast with the latest innovative trends.

As it is, people are entertainment-starved, and not too pleased with the strict policy of regulators, which results in a restricted choice of programmes.

One is at a loss as to why adoption of the latest technology is inordinately delayed. As a result, by the time it is introduced, the world has advanced further on, as had happened in the case of auction of 3G licence. Now with the delay in auction of DTH, it too will become obsolete with IPTV coming in a big way and taking over.

No one is advocating or defending the providers and end-users of the illegally imported DTH devices; it is just that the process of awarding the DTH licences locally should be expedited to regularise the import through proper channels and make up for the loss of revenues to the government.

Muhammad K Sufi

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2018