- Programme Division
There are three main units dealing with the programme planning and productions:-
- Home Services
- External Services
- Central Production
Overall responsibility to plan, produce and broadcast programmes in accordance with the policies formulated by the Board of Directors under the guidance of Federal Government rests with the Programme Division.
External broadcasts are carried in 16 languages for a total duration of little more than 9 hours per day. The object of these services is the projection of Pakistan abroad with special reference to its foreign policy, economic development, social, cultural and literary activities.
For Overseas Pakistanis, special broadcasts are arranged under World Service. This service broadcast little more than 10 hours every day and directed to listeners in South Asia, South East Asia, Middle East and U.K.
There are three units of Central Production located at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. The main functions of these units are to produce quality programmes for PBC as well as special items for friendly countries and Pakistan Missions abroad. It also maintains a sound Archives Library, which can rightly be called a national treasure, as it has preserved all-important broadcasts since 1947.
- News and Current Affairs Division
The Central News Organization known as CNO has a very bright past and has made valuable contribution to the broadcasting service in Pakistan. The instant supply of news is the most vital task of this unit, which at present broadcasts 149 news bulletins in 21 languages in the Home Service and in 14 languages in the External Service. The guideline for news broadcast is based on the cardinal principle of “a fair selection of items impartially presented”. The object is to present news as accurately, factually and impartially as possible. However, these objectives are frequently violated under various circumstances and exigencies caused by the decisions and policies of the Government of the day.
In the sphere of current affairs, the same policies are followed as that of News. In these programmes, experts and scholars from all over the country are invited to express their views about national and international events.
A Monitoring Unit is also a part of this division, which monitor broadcast in 6 different languages from 20 important radio networks around the world.
- Engineering Division
Overall responsibility to maintain the technical standards of the broadcasting services is of the Engineering Division. It has a vast establishment comprising several departments and sections with a large number of technical staff. Major functions of this division are project planning, installations, operation and maintenance of technical plants and equipments, research and development, construction and maintenance of buildings, production and procurement of technical equipment etc.
- Administration and Personnel Division
This Division, under the Director of Administration looks after the usual function of administration and personnel affairs. The training and international relations are also the responsibility of this division.
- Finance and Sales Division
The overall responsibility for procurement, supervision and operation of finances of the organization, control of recurring, non-recurring and development expenditure, collection of license fee, sale of advertisement and matters related to audit and accounts is with this division.
The Government has introduced the PEMRA Ordinance salient features of which are as under: –
PEMRA Establishment
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority was established through President of Pakistan’s ordinance in 2002. When initially 163 FM Radio licenses awarded except few Educational Radio licenses granted to some Public Universities. Now with the passage of time the numbers of Radio licenses are cropping up.