ISLAMABAD, Feb 29: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Saturday said 24 multimedia-multi channel distribution systems would be established in 21 cities of the country.

"Frequencies have been allocated to these channels in the private sector," he said while addressing a press conference. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said 17 fresh applications to set up TV channels in the private sector had been received while the 13 other channels were in the pipeline.

He said seven private channels were already in operation in the country. Earlier, the minister for information presided over a meeting which decided that the frequency allocation to the multimedia-multi channel distribution system licence holders by the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) would be resolved by March.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Information Technology Owais Leghari, Secretary Information and Broadcasting Syed Anwar Mehmood, secretary information technology, vice-chairman FAB, member PEMRA Salim Gul Sheikh and other senior officials of the two ministers.

The meeting was informed that two licences of Direct to Home (DTH) had been issued to private companies which would start their service by the end of this year. -APP