THE federal government has increased TV licence fee quietly. Most of the people are unaware of it because this fee is included in our electricity bills. Doing this without informing the people is unfair and unacceptable.

This is strange as it is related to the ministry of information. Is there any justification for an increase in this fee? How many people actually watch the state-run TV!

So an increase from Rs35 to Rs61 is merely a financial burden on the people. In all modern and civilised countries one hardly finds an example of this kind of taxation.

Those days are gone when we used to put an antenna to receive PTV signals. Rating and viewership of the PTV has gone down with the launch of more than 100 private channels.

In this era of breaking news competition where does PTV stand? Not a single PTV programme can be considered popular or is watched by viewers.

Besides, we pay monthly fee to our cable operators. PTV is also watched through these cable operators. This is not fair as consumers pay double the amount as TV fee. With technological advancement, this increase in TV licence fee seems to be unfair.

The federal government should take back the unjustified order for increase in TV fee.

DR ALFRED CHARLES
Karachi

Extortion?

THE monthly licence fee of state television has been raised to Rs60. My question is: why persons like me who never switch to PTV are being taxed? It appears to be extortion and needs to be withdrawn.

MIR TABASSUM MAIRAJ
Islamabad