ISLAMABAD, July 18: Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday directed licence-holders of non-commercial FM radio channels to operate within prescribed criterion and not to run other programmes their licenses did not cover.

Pemra officials met the licence-holders of the FM radio and asked them to adhere to the scope and mandate of their respective FM radio channels.

Among the licence-holders are academic universities and institutions offering Mass Communication, Islamabad Traffic Police, Punjab Traffic Police, National Highway Authority (NHA) and Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. However, lately there have been increasing complaints against some radio stations of airing foreign music, entertainment or news which otherwise did not fall within the scope of their licences.

The Pemra chairman, Dr Abdul Jabbar in a meeting with the representatives of Islamabad Traffic Police, National highway Authority, Fatima Jinnah Women University, International Islamic University, Riphah University, Dawah Academy, Allama Iqbal Open university and National University of Modern Languages Islamabad has categorically asked them to operate within the defined ambit of their licenses failing which Pemra reserved the right to revoke the licences.