ISLAMABAD (INP) - Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Chairman Dr Abdul Jabbar presented the authoritys performance report to President Asif Ali Zardari during a meeting held at the Presidents House. Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Firdous Aashiq Awan and Information Ministry Secretary Taimoor Azmat were also present. Presenting the report, the Pemra chairman said by the end of FY 2010-11, the authority issued 85 licences for indigenous satellite TV. Out of which 48 licences are of entertainment category, 29 news and current affairs, six educational TV, one health and one agro TV channel while 26 landing rights permissions have been issued and 2,341 cable TV, six MMDS, one IPTV and three mobile TV licences have been issued by the Pemra, according to the report. It added that new vistas have opened up for investment and employment in the broadcast arena. To a safer estimate, this buoyant sector has observed cumulative investment of about $2.5 billion in distinct forms and has provided direct employment to more than 200,000 people of diversified qualification and skills whereas about 7.00 million people have been accommodated through indirect employment. The report said if this brisk continued, it is estimated that the cumulative investment would touch $4 billion mark by the end of financial year 2011-12. Thus the direct and indirect employment would tend to multiply. This has paved for opportunities in allied businesses like production houses, advertising agencies, music and performing arts that has never witnessed before. On operational account, the Pemra report says that illegal up-linking by 11 foreign news channels/agencies was stopped during the Abbottabad incident. The Pemra raided more than 2,000 cable TV operators during the period and about 1,200 systems were seized. Penalties worth Rs10 million were imposed and nearly 100 foreign channels of various types being run illegally on cable networks were put off air and notably more than 250 illegal FM radio stations preaching violence and extremism were shut down in Punjab, Sindh and mostly in KP, it added. It has been concluded that the electronic media today has emerged as one of the fastest growing and competitive sectors in Pakistan. It is presumed that this report will provide insight to readers about the Pemras performance, initiatives, regulatory challenges and emerging trends and technologies in the field of electronic media in Pakistan.