Pak to penalise channels airing Indian TV content

Pakistan’s electronic media watchdog on Thursday warned of a crackdown on local channels illegally airing contents from Indian channels and imposed a cap of less than 6% of air-time to telecast Indian television channels.

The decision was prompted by complaints from the different TV owners and common citizens, according to an official of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).

Pemra chief Absar Alam said action will be taken against all TV channels violating the code of conduct. “Only the TV channels having permission and license can telecast foreign content. Pakistani TV channels can utilise less than 6 per cent of air time to telecast Indian TV contents from October 15, 2016,” he said.

He gave a 45-day deadline to those showing Indian contents illegally and said defaulters will be punished after the deadline.

“I urge people to stop using illegal Indian dishes as it is in utter violation of the law and against the national interest,” he said.

He said Pemra would get help from other departments to check the violation of the law regarding using foreign TV contents.

Indian films, dramas and reality shows are highly popular and keenly watched in Pakistan. BAN IN J&K TOO

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir government has asked cable operators in Srinagar to stop airing five Indian news channels for causing “mental and physical harm to particular functionaries of government”.

The diktat enraged local cable operators who said the government was creating “unnecessary trouble for airing the channels which were licensed by the ministry of information and broadcasting and completely pro-India”.