Pak Panel Seeks To Ban Foreign Content At Prime Time
In a move apparently aimed at preventing the airing of soaps and serials from countries like India and Turkey, a Pakistani parliamentary panel has asked the government to ban all foreign content in any language during prime time on television channels. The panel further recommended that the government should take strict action against anyone who violates the proposed ban.
The meeting was attended by Information Secretary Rasheed Ahmed, PEMRA Chairman Abdul Jabbar, and television actors Qavi Khan, Laila Zuberi and Maria Wasti. The committee further suggested that PEMRA should strictly monitor television channels and cable operators and take prompt action for violation of rules.It also suggested the government should ban all advertisements featuring foreign talent.
Information Secretary Ahmed agreed with the proposal that foreign serials damaging local culture should be banned.
Actor Asif Raza Mir said steps should be taken to protect the local industry and that foreign serials should not be aired as they were harming Pakistan's culture and damaging the domestic industry. He suggested that Indian programming on cable television and FM radio channels should be banned.
