Pakistan media regulatory body cracks down on cable operators airing Indian content

Lahore: Pakistan's electronic media watchdog on Thursday launched a crackdown on cable operators airing Indian content on TV channels in the country.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) field staff conducted raids at four cable operators "for airing illegal Indian channels as well as Indian content," the watchdog said in a statement.

It identified the cable operators M/s Sharjah Cable Network, M/s Karachi Cable Services, M/s New Satellite Communication and M/s Star Digital Cable Network in Karachi. During the raid, the regulatory body seized illegal equipment and issued show cause notices to the violators, the statement said.

The PEMRA has launched an operation in the country on reports of deliberate violations of the Supreme Court order by the cable operators, it said.

It warned all cable TV operators of the country to "immediately stop" airing Indian channels/content which are otherwise illegal or proscribed by the authority.

"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 strictly in accordance with PEMRA laws," it warned.

In 2016, PEMRA imposed a complete ban on airing Indian content on local television and FM radio channels.

However, the Lahore High Court lifted the ban in 2017, declaring it null and void as the Pakistan government had no objections regarding the same.

In 2018, Pakistan’s Supreme Court reinstated a ban on airing Indian content on TV channels in the country, overturning the Lahore High Court’s order.

The decision was largely seen as a tit-for-tat move after similar actions were taken by some channels and the entertainment industry in India against Pakistani content and artists.