The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) is in the news once again as the government-run taskforce has directed all channels not to air television dramas containing ‘indecent content’.
“Such content is not only distressing for viewers but is also against the commonly accepted standards of decency,†the media regulatory body stated in a notification issued on Tuesday. The notice also slammed content shown in dramas which according to PEMRA ‘distorts’ religious beliefs and also ‘depicts’ indecent scenes, extramarital relations, violence, inappropriate dressing, rape scenes, use of drugs and alcohol and physical intimacy.
پیمرا کا تمام ٹی وی چینلز کو متنازعہ اور غیر اخلاقی موضوعات پر مبنی ڈراموں کی نشریات کو فوری روکنے کی ہدایت pic.twitter.com/J6QyzvKROq
— Report PEMRA (@reportpemra) January 8, 2019
The notification further added that PEMRA has been receiving massive public complaints on Pakistan Citizen Portal (PCP), the authority’s own Complaints Call Center and Feedback System, and as well as through social media.
Previously, the authority posted a notice on Twitter, in which they lamented that the budding TV industry has gotten ‘bold’ and is ‘ignoring religious values.’
“Pakistani TV industry has always been recognized/appreciated for its quality and diversification,†the notice read.“…However, over the time, it has been observed that the quality of Pakistani dramas is deteriorating every day. Themes of Pakistani dramas are quite bold and not reflective of the majority of Pakistani society. Unnecessary glamour, bold scenes are being shown in the drama, ignoring religious, social, cultural and ethical values of the country.â€
