RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) torched Indian direct-to-hone (DTH) and cable-line (C-line) equipment in Raja Bazaar on Thursday with support from the All Pakistan Satellite Goods Association and the Rawalpindi Traders Union.

Pemra Chairman Mohammad Saleem Baig attended the event as the chief guest alongside Executive Member Ashfaq Jumani, Customs Intelligence Director General Mohammad Zahid Khokhar, Director General (Operations-Distribution) Mohammad Farooq, Director General (Operations-Broadcast) Sohail Asif, Pemra Deputy General Manager Mian Asif, All Pakistan Satellite Goods Association office bearers Mohammad Yasin Butt and Ali Ahmad Malik and Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha.

Participants also shouted slogans against Indian DTH equipment and in support of Pakistan and Pemra.

Mr Baig praised the traders association for voluntarily discouraging Indian DTH services in Pakistan, calling these a threat to the social fabric. He said Pakistani DTH was expected to enter the fray by this November.

He urged for the Supreme Court order banning Indian channels and content to be implemented so local investment in DTH services in protected.

He warned that cable operators found relaying Indian channels or content would face action that could include the cancellation of licences, seizure of equipment and the filing of FIRs.

Mr Baig said that according to an estimate, millions of illegal Indian DTH decoders of Dish TV, Tata Sky, Airtel, VideoCon, SunBig, Reliance and more have been smuggled into the country. He said this was an illegal activity and a major source of money laundering that was causing losses to the exchequer.

He said local DTH and digital mediums would help create jobs for thousands of people and inject billions of rupees worth of investment into the economy.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2019