ISLAMABAD - Total of 67 cities were awarded FM Radio licences in 9th phase of FM licencing during a two-day open bidding process, which concluded yesterday.
The bidding was held on November 7-8, 2016 at the PEMRA Headquarters, Islamabad. Total of 53 companies participated in the bidding for 77 FM Radio licences.
The bidding for 67 cities was divided in two days. On the first day, bidding was held to award the licences for 34 cities, which included Attock, Astore, Awaran, Benazirabad, Bahawalnagar, Bannu, Buner, Barkhan, Chaghai, Chicha Watni, Chiniot, Charsadda, 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 08, 2016.
The highest bid amounting to Rs25.5 million was offered for Sialkot, Rs20.5 million for the FM Radio licence of Jaranwala, Rs19.1 million for D.G.Khan, Rs17.55 million for Chiniot, Rs10.6 million for Charsadda and 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 did not participate in the bidding will be submitted to the Authority for policy decision.
Member Authority Punjab Nargis Nasir, Member Authority Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shaheen Habib Ullah, Director Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Salman Baig, Deputy Director Frequency Allocation Board Waqar Ahmed and Senior Management of PEMRA were also present during the bidding proceedings.