Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued notices for collection of billions of Pakistani rupees from TV channel licensees in terms of advertising revenue.

Under the terms and conditions of the license issued to the Pakistani TV channels by PEMRA, the news and current affairs and entertainment channels were required to pay 5 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively to PEMRA from the advertising revenue generated by them, said a press release issued in Lahore, Pakistan’s UrduPoint has reported.

However, for the last several years, the channels have been unable to pay PEMRA in this regard.

Under Rule 17 of the PEMRA Rules 2009, all licensees were required to submit their audited accounts to the regulator within three months at the end of every financial year.

The media report said PEMRA had provided several opportunities to TV channels to submit their audited accounts. Notices were issued to the channels without any discrimination in march 2020.

However, a majority of the TV channels were reluctant to provide details of their audited financial statements to the regulatory authority and only eight  companies complied.