Pakistan bans import of satellite kit.

[Robbo]

Import of satellite equipment banned
ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday restricted the import of a total of 14 items, including satellite dishes, decoders, receivers, Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG), encoders, modulators, High Power Amplifiers (HPAs), Integrated Digital Receivers (IRDs), Broadband Global Access Network (B-GAN) and Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs). From now onwards, only importers that get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) would be allowed to import such equipment. If any consignment of such equipment arrives in the country that is not supported by a NOC from PEMRA, it would be confiscated at the import stage, according to an official at the Commerce Ministry. Due to the ban on the telecast of private television channels following the imposition of emergency, the sale and import of satellite dishes, decoders, receivers, DSNG and similar items had increased. Viewers are able to watch most banned channels, including programmes on political developments, the Swat operation and protests by lawyers and opposition parties. The Commerce Ministry has issued a notification SRO stating that according to the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act of 1950, the federal government is pleased to direct that the Import Policy Order of 2007 would be amended to ban all satellite equipment. sajid chaudhry

Source: Daily Times, Pakistan.

[brian]

Sounds like it's targeted to stop unauthorised news reporting and journalist broadcasting from within the country, while Musharraf tries to control the media there.

2c.

[the insaan]

Originally Posted by brian

while Musharraf tries to control the media there.

2c.

maybe he should get advice from Rupert Murdoch about that

[SAT-WORLD]

Prices,for satellite equipment are nearly double,the usual rates,currently in Pakistan,due to the ban of private channels,available on the cable networks.

[Robbo]

Originally Posted by SAT-WORLD

Prices,for satellite equipment are nearly double,the usual rates,currently in Pakistan,due to the ban of private channels,available on the cable networks.

I'm surprised they're as cheap as that, I suppose they're selling existing stock. If it continues I bet the prices will go even higher.