Pakistani news channels to face fine of up to Rs10mn for airing fake news under Pemra Amendment Bill 2023

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting received final approval for the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority PEMRA (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which threatens broadcasters with heavy fines if they transmit falsehoods.

The bill was passed by the NA Committee meeting led by Javaria Zafar Aheer, while Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and other members of the ruling alliance praised the bill revision, calling it historic.

According to the Minister, media workers have the authority to file complaints with the Council of Complaints. She stated that the coalition administration spent more than a year preparing the updated draught following extensive consultations with all parties.

Under the new bill, the duration of airing ads cannot exceed 5 minutes during a regular programme on the mainstream channels.

Unions of media workers including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) were briefed about the PEMRA law.