With an eye to rein in YouTubers and web TV channels, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) is reported to have drafted recommendations, which state such channels be categorised under ‘broadcast media’ necessitating licensing.

Initially such channels being streamed would be put in the ‘broadcast media’ category that would be followed by formulation of domain specific regulations.

According to Pakistan’s 24NewsHD TV channel’s recent reports, the Pakistani media regulatory body has “already sent the working paper bearing these recommendations” to its members for approval.

PEMRA, according to the report, has recommended mandatory possession of licenses by owners of channels on YouTube and the Internet, which broadcast content on the lines done by traditional TV.

Thus, it has been suggested by PEMRA that these channels on YouTube and elsewhere on the Internet comply with a code of conduct just like mainstream TV channels do.

The Authority has further recommended making it compulsory for the owners of these channels to pay a registration fee as well as other local taxes to the Pakistani government, according to the report aired by 24NewsHD TV.

It has been suggested that these channels be run under the PEMRA laws of 2015.

The Authority members would either approve or reject these recommendations after deliberations at its next meeting.

However, from the reports it is not clear whether PEMRA held any public consultations with relevant stakeholders from the digital space before drafting the proposed regulations.