TV License Fees Goes High without Government’s Prior Notice

Lahore: The Electricity bill payers would receive additional television license charges in their bills which have been increased up to 41 % without the government’s prior issued notice. Sources have reported that from couple of years television license fees have had been taken by the electricity payers. Previously it was charged at Rs 35 but the present government has escalated the amount to Rs. 60.

An official of Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) Company said in connection that the distribution companies do not get any part of the sur charges. On the direction of government extra amounts are added to the bills along with the TV license charge. The amount paid gets deposited in the bank accounts of the Federal Board of Revenue.

Television license is the authorized permission issued by the government to permit the television broadcasts. The public broadcasters after issuance of the license are able to broadcast diverse TV programs, which revenue is collected from the radio or television advertisements. TV license is a common practice in the Middle East countries where it is used to fund public television.

Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) collecting the TV license charge from the consumers gives it to the Federal Board of Revenue that utilizes the amount to run advertisements on the government owned channel PTV. The additional fees had been added since the date 22 August 2013.