ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) has extended its order on suspension of PEMRA notice regarding collection of Annual Gross Advertisement Revenue from television channels.

The order on suspending PEMRA notice has been extended till next hearing.

Faisal Siddiqui, counsel for PBA told the court PEMRA has issued notice to TV channels directing them to pay Rs 2 billion against 5 percent income accrued to them on account of advertisements during 13 years.

PEMRA charges annual fee to TV channels while the channels have not paid 5 percent of annual income against the advertisements so far.

The court remarked question is this either PEMRA is charging this amount as tax or it is some other fee.

PBA counsel told the court PEMRA is not authorized to levy tax. According to PEMRA demand notice the amount runs into billion of rupees. No channel can pay such huge amount. It is better that channel be taken back. No channel has paid this amount from 2009 todate. These cases remained under hearing in different court till 2019. Now PEMRA has issued notices to the channels for recovery of amount.

The hearing of the case was adjourned till May 26.