ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday said the government had approved the National Digital Cable Policy 2021 for cable operators.

During a meeting with a delegation of Cable Operators Association of Pakistan, he said under the policy, a subscription model would be launched enabling the existing cable operators to subscribe for running new channels.

He said at present, analog cable was being provided to homes, which had poor quality with less number of channels.

Fawad said the digitisation of cable network would increase transparency in channel ratings as well as their number.

The subscription model would allow the cable operators to purchase and operate local and international content, he added.

The cable operators, he said, would be provided loans under the Kamyab Jawan Programme for buying digital boxes and their repayment after collecting fee/charges from the customers.

The delegation briefed the minister about their problems, and challenges. The minister assured them that their problems/issues would be resolved.

The delegation comprised Cable Operators Association of Pakistan Chairman Irfan Ali Khoso, President Raja Asad Ali Khan, General Secretary Ghufran Mujtaba and Information Secretary Malik Moazzam Sultan.

Cable operators’ representatives of Sindh, South Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi, Hafizabad, Hassanabdal, Sukkur and Islamabad also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2021