Women’s Day: PEMRA issues advisory to refrain TV channels from airing ‘controversial content’

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has issued an advisory and warned TV channels against airing “unethical slogans, play cards (sic) with objectionable content”on Women’s Day which commemorated on March 8.

The electronic media watchdog advisory stated that some channels had “aired controversial content with special reference to the slogan relating (sic) to Aurat March”.

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PEMRA also urged channels to be “mindful of the fact that telecast of such controversial content is against the commonly accepted standards of decency as well as religious, social, cultural norms and sentiments of public”.

“Furthermore, the airing of such vulgar/inappropriate content is not suitable for viewing on TV channels,” the advisory read.

The advisory further said that telecasting “such content is in violation of Section 20(f) of Pemra Ordinance, 2002 as amended by the Pemra (Amendment) Act, 2007, read with different clauses of Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct, 2015 and aforementioned court orders.

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“Besides, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting on March 5, 2020, has unanimously discouraged the telecast of indecent and controversial content on television channels with special reference to the indecent slogans and banners relating to the ‘World Women Day’ campaign in Pakistan which is being marked on March 8, 2020.”

Pemra’s advisory further said that TV channels should “realise their responsibility and play their due role in building high moral values and character among the viewers”. It also instructed anchorpersons to be “careful in selection of words/gestures and avoid putting such questions/comments which are bold/explicit”.