67 cities awarded FM radio licences

ISLAMABAD: The 67 cities were awarded FM Radio licences in 9th Phase of FM licensing in a two-day open bidding process that concluded on Tuesday.  Bidding was held on 7th and 8th November, 2016 at Pemra Headquarters, Islamabad. The 53 companies participated in bidding for 77 FM Radio licences.

Bidding for the 67 cities was divided in two days, on the first day, bidding was held to award the licences for 34 cities i.e. Attock, Astore, Awaran, Benazirabad, Bahawalnagar, Bannu, Buner, Barkhan, Chaghai, Chicha Watni, Chiniot, Charsada, Dadu, Dera Allah Yar, Dera Murad Jamali, Digri, Dera Ghazi Khan, Daska, Dera Ismail Khan, Diamer, Gilgit, Ghizer, Ghanche, Gojra, Hafizabad, Hunza-Nagar, Hala, Hangu, Jacobabad, Jhang, Jaranwala, Jahangera, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad.

Whereas, bidding for 33 cities namely Khairpur, Kharian, Kalachi, Kila Saifullah, Layya, Matiari, Matli, Mehrabpur, Mandi Bahau Din, Mian Channu, Malsi, Mansehra, Mardan, Musakhel, Pattoki, Pasroor, Paharpur, Pishin, Qamber Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Sakrand, Shahdadpur, Sialkot, Shahkot, Shabqadar, Sibi, Skardu, Thatta, Takhatbai, Toba Tek Singh, Usta Muhammad, Wazirabad and Zhob was held on November 8, 2016. The highest bid was amounting to Rs25.5 million for Sialkot, Rs20.5 million for the FM Radio licence of Jaranwala, Rs19.1 million for DG Khan, Rs17.55 million for Chiniot, Rs10.6 million for Charsada, Rs10.1 million for Kharian.

It was also decided that all the cases in which only one application received or applicant company withdrew its application and not participated in the bidding will be submitted to the authority for policy decision.

Ms. Nargis Nasir, Member Authority Punjab, Ms. Shaheen Habib Ullah, Member Authority Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Salman Baig, Director Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Waqar Ahmed, Deputy Director Frequency Allocation Board and Senior Management of Pemra were also present during the bidding proceedings.