He was chairing a meeting to review the performance of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) here on Thursday.
Appreciating the performance of Pemra, the prime minister said that Pakistan had an open media policy, but the government could not allow programmes being aired, against our faith, culture and tradition.
He instructed the Pemra chairman to regulate illegal TV channels and FM radio stations operating in the country and ensure strict compliance with the code of conduct regarding the contents of the transmissions.
He also instructed Pemra to simplify its procedures, keep direct contact with the clients to the maximum and instead use technology and improved process to monitor illegal operations.
"Pemra should have a lean structure. It should have mobile inspection teams and technology driven enforcement," he said.
Shaukat also gave instructions for putting in place a process for improving and expediting up linking facilities to ensure better projection of the country across the world. The Pemra chairman informed the meeting that the authority has closed 60 TV channels and 12 FM radio stations as these were operating illegally.
He said that Pemra's jurisdiction had been extended to the AJK and Northern Areas. He said that the authority had issued nine provisional FM Radio licences for the earthquake-hit areas on emergency basis out of which seven are operational.
The process for licensing of satellite and terrestrial TV licences in AJK and Northern Areas had also been initiated. He said policy for regulating in-house channels and advertisements on cable TV networks have been formulated and implemented, while the and new licensing policy and procedures have been finalised.
He also said that Pemra has also closed 713 illegal Cable TV operations as well as a large number of pornographic channels.
Principal secretary to the prime minister, CBR chairman, PTA chairman and other senior officials attended the meeting.