To control the increasing vulgarity and indecent content on the TV channels, Pakistani Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued its latest advice for the Pakistani TV channels. Regulatory authority has remind all the television channels of Pakistan to stop broadcasting the content which contains vulgarity and indecency, in order to kept our tradition and culture alive. According to the notice issued by PEMRA, it has been observed that almost all the channels of Pakistan are not following the rules and regulations made by the authority to control the immorality in the society.
The Advice has been issued by the PEMRA in execution to the directions of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Broadcasting & National Heritage, on 3rd July, 2015. In this reminder, television channels regulatory authority has highlighted the important issues like immoral programs, songs, advertisement and foreign content out of the limitations, are listed. However reminder issued by the PEMRA prohibited all the channels not to broadcast six contraband materials, which are:
- To broadcast any foreign content more than 10%, in violation of Regulation 18(1)(a) of PEMRA (Television Broadcast Station Operations) regulations-2012
- To on-air the advertisement more than 12 minutes per hour,in violation of Rule 15 (3) of PEMRA Rules 2009.
- To broadcast “Nilaam Ghar” type programs in the Holy month of Ramzan, as this can hurt the devotion of this Holy month.
- To broadcast the clips and songs of foreign movies in the news bulletins, in the guise of entertainment, as it is the clear violation of rules and regulations.
- Unethical and immoral content in whether advertisement or programs.
- To broadcast the Programs based on re-enactment of crimes, which can promote crime in the society.
PEMRA has also advised all the television channels of the country to start their transmission with the National Anthem every day, as it is already being practiced in the neighboring countries, to promote the patriotism in the public. The regulatory authority has also drawn the attention of all the media to broadcast cartoons and other healthy programs for the children. According to PEMRA, this is very serious issue and TV channels are not focusing it, as children only have two foreign cartoon channels for their entertainment and there is no such type channel in the country.
It is to be noted that after so much criticism by the public on the content of television channels, PEMRA has finally noticed them and has issued direction to the channels. People have demanded that the regulatory authority must have to implement these directions in order to protect the society from immorality.