National Assembly Passes PEMRA Amendment Bill 2025 to Update Media Regulatory Authority Rules

Simple News Explanation

Pakistan’s National Assembly has passed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Amendment Bill 2025 to update administrative powers and authority rules related to PEMRA.

PEMRA is Pakistan’s official media regulatory body working under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The government says the amendment was needed to replace the term “Federal Government” with more specific authorities across different sections of the law, following Supreme Court and Federal Cabinet directions .

What Changed in the Law?

“Division Concerned” Added in the Law
The amendment introduces the term “division concerned”, meaning the ministry or division responsible for PEMRA’s affairs is now clearly identified. Previously, many powers were broadly assigned to the “Federal Government,” causing administrative confusion. The government says this change will:

• Clarify responsibilities
• Improve administrative efficiency
• Reduce delays in decision-making

Definition of “Minister” Updated
The law now defines “Minister” as the Minister-in-Charge of the relevant division concerned, ensuring it is clear which minister handles PEMRA-related matters. This helps create a more organized administrative structure.

Some References to Federal Government Removed
Words like “Federal Government” have been replaced in multiple sections with specific authorities such as the Prime Minister or division concerned. This reduces unnecessary involvement of the Federal Cabinet in routine matters.

Prime Minister Given Certain Administrative Powers
The amendment transfers some powers previously held under the term “Federal Government” directly to the Prime Minister, aligning PEMRA laws with current constitutional and administrative practices.

Cabinet Burden Reduction Measures Introduced
Following the Supreme Court’s Mustafa Impex Case, the Federal Cabinet directed ministries to replace the term “Federal Government” with appropriate authorities and reduce routine administrative matters sent to the Cabinet. The amendment is part of broader governance reforms across different laws and institutions.

Why This Law Was Needed
The APP Ordinance contained outdated administrative wording that no longer matched modern governance practices. Following Supreme Court directions, ministries were instructed to clearly define powers instead of using the general term “Federal Government.”

The government says the law will help to:

• Clarify administrative authority
• Reduce burden on the Federal Cabinet
• Improve efficiency in decision-making
• Modernize PEMRA governance structure
• Align laws with Supreme Court directions

Short Summary
Pakistan’s National Assembly has passed the PEMRA Amendment Bill 2025 to modernize administrative authority rules within the media regulatory body. The law replaces “Federal Government” with specific authorities such as the Prime Minister and relevant divisions, aiming to improve clarity, reduce bureaucratic delays, and streamline governance according to Supreme Court and Federal Cabinet directives .