Stop Airing Indian Channels Or Face Action: Pakistan Media Watchdog Orders Cable Operators

Lahore: Pakistan’s media watchdog has ordered local cable TV operators to stop airing Indian channels.

Anyone violating the order will face strict action, ANI reported quoting Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (PEMRA) statement.

PEMRA added that several operators have been violating its rules and the country’s Supreme Court.

PEMRA directed its regional offices to monitor cable operators against whom there are complaints of airing Indian channels.

“No channel other than PEMRA licensee would be allowed for distribution on cable TV networks and any operator found defying the orders henceforth would be dealt with strictly in accordance with PEMRA law,” it said.

The Karachi regional office conducted surprise inspections on operators including Digital Cable Network, Home Media Communications (Pvt) Ltd, Shahzaib Cable Network and Sky Cable Vision, the report said.

Similar raids have been conducted in Sindh and Punjab districts, too, with PEMRA teams confiscating illegal equipment and issuing showcause notices.

This is not the first time such a ban has been imposed in Pakistan.

In 2016, Indian films and TV channels were banned in Pakistan, but the Lahore High Court ruled against it two years later. The Supreme Court later overturned the high court judgment and reimposed the ban.