Paki crack down - ban on satellite dishes

Import of satellite equipment banned.

The government on Tuesday restricted the import of a total of 14 items, including satellite dishes, decoders, receivers, Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG), encoders, modulators, High Power Amplifiers (HPAs), Integrated Digital Receivers (IRDs), Broadband Global Access Network (B-GAN) and Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs).

From now onwards, only importers that get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) would be allowed to import such equipment. If any consignment of such equipment arrives in the country that is not supported by a NOC from PEMRA, it would be confiscated at the import stage, according to an official at the Commerce Ministry.

Due to the ban on the telecast of private television channels following the imposition of emergency, the sale and import of satellite dishes, decoders, receivers, DSNG and similar items had increased. Viewers are able to watch most banned channels, including programmes on political developments, the Swat operation and protests by lawyers and opposition parties.