ISLAMABAD, Jan 25: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Saturday awarded licence to Virtual University for launching two satellite television channels.

Pemra Chairman Mian Mohammad Javed handed over the licence to the rector of the university, Dr Naveed Akhtar Malik, in a ceremony at Green Trust Tower. Pemra Licensing General Manager Fayyaz Hussain Shah and the rector signed the agreement.

The chairman said the opening of the channels would open an era of quality education. Virtual University would be allowed to set up two TV channels in the education sector, which showed the priority of the authority, he said.

“We have already awarded licences for radio channels to Islamic University and Punjab University,” he said.

He said Pemra would had decided to award licences for TV and radio channels on priority basis and concessional rates in the education sector.

The Virtual University management has deposited the fee.

Pemra has approved licences for seven TV Channels to Virtual University, Lahore; Indus Entertainment, Karachi; AVT Prime, Islamabad; Mashriq Television, Lahore; International Marketing and Trading, Lahore; ARY Communication, Islamabad; and Tele World Top End, Lahore. They will be granted licences for 15 years after depositing a fee of Rs5 million. #

AWAIS:# Speaking at the launching of the distance education programme through Paksat-I, Information Technology and Telecommunications Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said the use of communication satellite for education would open a new chapter in promoting literacy in the remote areas.

“Our next big user is the Higher Education Commission and by utilizing the satellite, we would be able to promote education in the country,” he said.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf launched the programme through the country’s first communication satellite.

The minister said the resources of the satellite would be utilized for benefit of the people.

He said that through the satellite the government could utilize the technology vastly at affordable rates.

He said the Virtual University project launched last year could offer affordable education to tens of thousands of students.—APP