ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has so far awarded FM radio licences to as many as 11 universities in the country. In response to a question, the National Assembly was informed on Thursday that FM radio licences had been issued to 11 educational institutions, and the case to allow six more radio channels to other universities was also under consideration.

The 11 universities which are running their own radio stations are University of the Punjab, Lahore; Dawah Academy, International Islamic University, Islamabad; University of Peshawar; National University of Modern Languages (Numl), Islamabad; Islamia University, Bahawalpur; Lahore College for Women University, Lahore; Karachi University, Karachi; Gomal University, D.I. Khan; Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi; Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad (AIOU) and Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan.

According to Pemra, six educational institutions have applied for FM radio licences. These are Beacon House University, School of Mass Media, Lahore; University of Central Punjab, Lahore; Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, Karachi; National University of Science and Technology, Rawalpindi; Riphah International University, Islamabad; The University of Faisalabad, Faisalabad.

The question was put forward by Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, and responded by minister in charge of the cabinet division, Dr Sher Afgan.

In response to another question asked by Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur, the lower house was informed that so far Pemra had issued 16 satellite TV licences.