Strict vigilance on TV serials content: Information Minister
The minister told NA that the entertainment channels enjoyed freedom of expression.
ISLAMABAD (APP) - Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb on Monday said the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was having strict vigilance on television drama content to promote a healthy and constructive society.
Speaking in the National Assembly on a Calling Attention Notice, the minister said the entertainment channels enjoyed freedom of expression, but they should observe the Code of Conduct to ensure that no play against traditions and ethics were telecast.
Members of the National Assembly Tahira Aurangzeb, Seema Mohiuddin Jameeli, Begum Tahira Bokhari and Asiya Naz Tanoli had drawn the attention of the minister towards three TV dramas promoting ratio of divorce in the country.
The minister urged the channels to activate their content committees to ensure that such content is telecast which cast unhealthy aspersions on the people, especially youth. “The Council of Complaint is fully active and any complaint about objectionable content must be conveyed to it through complaint number.”
She said an advisory had been sent to all channels regarding the Code of Conduct and if any member had any complaint about a specific TV programme, action would be taken against such channel.
“It is also responsibility of TV channels to keep societal norms in mind while telecasting any content,” she added.
Answering a question, the minister said it was for the first time that the Information Ministry had introduced a Code of Conduct while it was also initiating training courses for producers and content managers under a specific curriculum and calendar to raise awareness on societal obligations. “For the purpose we are also involving all the stakeholders to ensure that a uniform policy is adopted to fulfill our obligations to our people.”
She also mentioned to holding a National Artists Conference for bringing back healthy content of the past to the TV screen. “We are seriously looking into this possibility.”
In the changing world, the minister said, “it is direly needed that our young generation is educated our glorious traditions and family norms.
Such plays will help discourage the extremism sentiment from the society and promote healthy traditions.”
