Pakistan’s media watchdog on Friday warned cable operators across the country of strict action if they were found broadcasting Indian channels.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) noted that in the past several operators were found violating the rules laid down by it and the Supreme Court. On Friday, PEMRA ordered its regional offices to carry out enforcement operations on reports of violations by cable operators broadcasting Indian channels.
“No channel other than a PEMRA licensee shall be allowed to be distributed on cable TV networks and any operator disobeying the orders shall be dealt with strictly as per PEMRA law,” the authority said in a statement.
The Karachi Regional Office conducted surprise checks in various areas and raided cable operators such as Digital Cable Network, Home Media Communications (Pvt) Ltd, Shahzeb Cable Network and Sky Cable Vision.
Similar raids were conducted by PEMRA enforcement teams in Sindh’s Hyderabad and Punjab’s Multan region and they seized illegal equipment and show-cause notices were issued to violators, the statement said.
Pakistan has banned Indian films and TV channels several times in the past as well. For the first time, it banned Indian films after the 1965 war, which continued for decades but was finally lifted in 2008 after bilateral relations improved.
The most recent ban on Indian content in Pakistan was imposed in 2016 following tensions between the two countries over the Kashmir issue. The Lahore High Court ruled against the ban in 2018 but in October 2018 the Supreme Court overturned the High Court’s decision and reinstated it. The bilateral sanctions policy hinders the cultural ties between the two countries which is an important aspect of the broad-based ties.
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