DTH in Pakistan

I am an avid follower of Pakistan current affair shows. It would not be wrong if I state that only 10% of these shows express and discuss issues without being objective and biased.

Few days back, I was again watching one of these shows and found something very disappointing. A very famous and honest current affairs anchor divulged a very shocking fact. The topic was the impending beginning of legalized DTH and the hurdles it is facing by external and internal forces. Yes! you heard that right! Now let me explain how! According to a very seasoned Indian journalist informed his counterpart in Pakistan, that all this hue and cry about DTH finally making its place in Pakistan within the legal parameters is all a hoax. He quoted \" very reliable sources have informed that the bidding which was to take Pakistan in which 9 Pakistani companies were taking part in, has been put to halt. The reason is that India\'s leading conglomerate TATA has joined hands with Pakistan\'s biggest province\'s CM \" . Well we all know which is our biggest province and who is their leader, so lets not take names. But the sad part is that, the common man we will be fooled by the CM as they would show they are taking over the DTH business in Pakistan but in reality it would be TATA introducing, handling and running the DTH. As soon as TATA made its entry in this business, they stopped the bidding in Pakistan stopped right away with the help of some influential and powerful political leader of Punjab. So this information is latest and updated

So Now lets look into the brief history of this issue. Ever since DTH process was started back in 2003, it faced hurdles and was affected with legal proceedings which are still undecided. Whatever the case may be Government was deprived of huge potential to earn directly, not only this numerous employment opportunities were lost whose sole beneficiaries were the very people of Pakistan. Not only that national exchequer lost a handsome opportunity to earn taxes and the country was once again left one step back in technological advancement.

Talking about this same topic outside out borders, a brief look around Asia reveals that our neighbouring countries like China, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka either have a fully functional DTH distribution service or they are on course to set up the same in near future. DTH platform is not only yielding huge taxes and fees to the Government, they also are being effectively used as a means of disseminating education and trainings at the doorstep of households.

Besides, illegal DTH penetration is a huge challenge faced by PEMRA wherein Indian culture is directly relayed without any check and balance. Some might argue that same Indian content is being broadcast via Cinemas and Internet and for the sake of argument it may be agreed upon but what is the benefit of the country in terms of taxes and technological advancement ?. The whole operation of illegal DTH is ab initio void and challenges the very writ of the Government. There are more than 3 million subscribers to this illegal DTH, due to which not only 3 Billion Rupees are monthly being lost without any tax revenue for the Government and the actual potential of DTH is being not explored, which is a multi billion market. One way adopted by PEMRA in collaboration with FIA was to crack down on the dealers and distributors of DTH equipment and services but in vain.

The arrival of such equipment from China and Dubai through smuggling is the root where PEMRA does not have any jurisdiction but Customs department does and analysing from current state of illegal DTH services, one can easily construe upon that no proper effort is being made. The concerned authorities must have had resorted to auction DTH Distribution Licenses to overcome this illegal activity comprising financial loss but as expected, like in 2003, the process has again faced a delay. This time, however, the delay came due to internal management issues as the long awaited appointment of PEMRA chairman was done in a time when the DTH license auction was almost nearing its ultimate fate. All the short-listed applicants are shocked to receive a memo from PEMRA that the said process which was going smoothly has come to stun halt.

On a personal front, being a true patriotic who wants Pakistan to flourish in all walks of life on its own, the intervention of an Indian company in collaboration with the CM is a major setback. Financial losses, deprivation of general public from viewing channels of their choice, taking away the right of learning and parent controlled TV viewer ship are the matters which direly need attention at this point of time. Needless to reiterate that a country where government organizations are successfully restoring writ all across the country but yet illegal DTH operations are some instances where there is no effort is bringing concrete results. PakSat is also being deprived of huge potential to use its satellites for this venture which by the way can prove to be a mean of earning millions through leasing out its equipment for DTH. Options of choice are effective and unhindered completion of DTH License auction allowing FDI worth billions, creation of job opportunities, huge contribution into Government treasury and start of a new technological era or delays like past which will serve only a group of people and public at large will suffer.