Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance (PEMRA), 2002

This 2002 Ordinance establishes the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to regulate broadcast media and distribution services -- television, radio, cable, and satellite -- across Pakistan. The preamble states the goals: improving standards of information, education and entertainment; enlarging public access to media; devolving media access to the local level; ensuring accountability and transparency; and, per later amendments, ensuring timely payment of electronic media employees' salaries and fair, independent TV ratings. Section 3 establishes the Authority, Section 4 sets out its functions, and Section 5 lets the Federal Government issue directives to it.

Governance provisions cover the Authority's members (Section 6), their tenure (Section 7), meetings (Section 8), remuneration (Section 9), and a bar on Chairman and members engaging in certain other businesses (Section 10). PEMRA has its own Fund (Section 14), budget (Section 15), and audit process (Section 16), and must submit an annual report (Section 17).

Licensing is central to the Ordinance: Section 18 sets categories of licences, Section 19 requires a licence to broadcast or operate, and Section 20 covers licence terms and conditions -- with Section 20A (added later) specifically obliging licensees to pay their media employees' dues on time, and Section 20B covering government advertisements. Section 21 requires consultation with the provinces, Section 23 excludes monopolies, and Section 25 lists persons who cannot be granted a licence. Section 26 establishes Councils of Complaints to handle public complaints against broadcasters. Sections 27-28 let PEMRA prohibit or suspend unlicensed broadcast or distribution operations, Section 29 gives it inspection powers, and Section 29A lets it impose fines, recoverable as arrears of land revenue under Section 29B. Section 30 lets PEMRA vary, suspend, or revoke a licence, with a right of appeal under Section 30A, though Section 30B bars ordinary courts from certain PEMRA matters.

Offences and penalties are set out in Section 33, backed by search-warrant powers (Section 33B); Section 34A makes these offences compoundable and cognizable, and Section 36 addresses offences committed by companies. Section 37 makes the Ordinance override other laws, except that national broadcasters and state-owned enterprises continue to be regulated by their own laws, and certain existing private broadcasters keep specific exemptions. Sections 39 and 39A give PEMRA power to make rules and regulations.

The extract shows this Ordinance has been amended repeatedly and substantially -- notably by the PEMRA (Amendment) Act, 2007 and Act LXI of 2023 (which added the disinformation/misinformation definitions, employee-payment protections, and TV-rating requirements), with a footnote even referencing an insertion by Act No. XXIV of 2026. Given this heavy and recent amendment history, readers should check the current official text for specific licensing terms, fines, and definitions rather than relying on any single provision here.