The government on Wednesday has warned that action will be taken against those disobeying the `Ordinance amending some Nepal Acts relating to communications, 2005.’

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) said it has notified all the Frequency Modulation (FM) broadcasting institutions not to transmit or broadcast news-based programmes as provided for in the said ordinance.

The new ordinance bars FM radio stations from airing news-based programmes and allows them to broadcast ‘informative programmes’ only. The latest amendment in the National Broadcasting Ordinance 2049 B. S. has described the ‘informative programmes’ as those programmes prepared with the objective of providing information or raising public awareness on topics related to health, education, sports, population, weather or road transport.

Briefing media on the new ordinance on Tuesday, spokesman at the MoIC, Ratna Raj Pandey, had said the provision relating to broadcasting of news over FM stations will not be enforced until the apex court delivers final judgment on the issue.

The government notice, however, did not say what type of action will the media institutions have to face ‘’for violating the new law.’’