Pak bans condom ads

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has directed TV and Radio channels to “immediately stop” airing advertisements marketing contraceptives and family planning products, according to a notification issued to all media outlets this week. The decision was taken, said the notification, in light of complaints received by Pemra against “undesired” contraceptives commercials being broadcast on electronic media. “General public is very much concerned on the exposure of such products to the innocent children, which get inquisitive on features/use of the products,” read the notification. Parents have “shown apathy” on advertisement of such products and demanded a ban on their airing, it further said. The regulatory body warned of “legal actions under Pemra laws” against media organisations failing to follow the directives on such ads. Pakistan is notoriously strait-laced when it comes to matters of sex and family planning is considered a taboo topic by many. Contraceptive commercials are rare in Pakistan, where fear of backlash from the country’s religious, conservative right usually means advertisers avoid the subject altogether. Pemra last year banned an advertisement by a condom brand, calling it “immoral” and contrary to religious norms after receiving a deluge of complaints from the public. Discussing contraception in public is considered taboo by a sizeable portion of the Pakistani population.