Pemra to revoke licences of channels airing more than six percent Indian content

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Absar Alam on Tuesday stated that Pemra will revoke the licences of the television channels airing Indian content more than the allocated quota of 6 percent per day after the deadline of October 15.

He was talking at ‘A Debate on Foreign Entertainment Content on Pakistani TV Channels’, arranged by United Producers Association (UPA). He made it clear that in future, the foreign content would be aired on the reciprocal basis. 

The chairman added that the 6 percent quota included the repeat telecast also. He also announced a complete ban on Urdu dubbed content being televised by the foreign channels having landing rights. “Only Urdu subtitles will be allowed,” he said, adding that this law would not apply to advertisements.

Absar Alam said that the government has already started action against Indian digital boxes. “We are in contact with the provincial governments to control the sale of Indian digital boxes at provincial level,” he continued.  

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman UPA Satish Anand said that it was in the interest of Pakistani private drama producers that the laws of Pemra regarding the broadcast of foreign content allowing 10 percent foreign content in a day including 6 percent Indian and 4 percent other languages was implemented in letter and spirit. He appreciated the PEMRA chairman for recognising the UPA as a legitimate stakeholder in the media industry of Pakistan. He hoped that in future Pemra will involve UPA in decision making process about the future of media industry of Pakistan as it does with other stakeholders.

Former chairperson UPA and veteran artiste Samina Ahmad told the audience that established in 2007, UPA was the only recognised body representing the fraternity of private drama producers of Pakistan. She added that UPA had always been raising voice about the violation of Pemra’s quota of 10 percent of foreign content by many TV channels as it had adversely affected the local drama production industry.

She said that in last threeyears, Pakistani drama industry was badly affected by the excessive foreign content shown on the television. She pointed out that currently, only 15 to 20 percent Pakistani content is shown on private channels. “In Lahore only, there were about 50 production companies three years ago which have now shrunk to around 4 only,” she said. 

The event was attended by the UPA founding Chairman Rashid Khawaja, Vice Chairman Sardar, Secretary General Syed Mubashir Imam and members including Ayub Khosa, Hassan Naeem, Zeeshan Khan, Raza Ali, Muhammad Khalid Ali, Zulfiqar Ali, Imran Islam and Munazza Arif.

INP adds: Pemra has granted Chairman Absar Alam the authority to revoke or suspend licences of companies airing Indian content without serving prior notice. A statement declared that the licences of companies will be revoked or suspended without a show cause notice or hearing if Indian content is aired in violation of an earlier order. 

The Pemra board decried the policy formulated in 2004 by the government of Pakistan allowing six percent airing of Indian content. An official of the authority told media that there was no policy in India regarding the Pakistani content and artists and decisions in this regard were made by the relevant industry themselves.

“We have made this consensus decision to link the airing of the Indian content with the policy in that country after looking at their treatment of our artists and productions,” said one of the board members.

The member referred to a decision by the association of film producers in India and the demand made by some actors in Bollywood to ban Pakistani artists, musicians and technicians.