Islamabad: The government in Pakistan was flayed by the opposition on Tuesday for allowing Indian films and serials to be beamed on television and cable, saying they helped to promote Indian culture and spoilt the youth.
The issue was raised in the National Assembly or lower
house of parliament by opposition PML-Q member Bushra Rehman
through a call attention notice. The screening of such films
amounted to the promotion of Indian culture by the privately
owned channels and cable networks, she said.
Pakistani youth are being spoilt by such programming
and this is causing "grave concern" among the people, Rehman
said.
Responding to the criticism, Information Minister
Qamar Zaman Kaira said the government could not intervene in
the matter as the previous government had permitted cable
operators to telecast foreign channels and foreign films and
serials.
The permission granted to cable operators later became
part of the official policy and the operators have said they
will approach courts if the government acts against them for
telecasting foreign films or serials, Kaira said.
"We do not want to take action against the media
channels as the government. But if the House will empower us,
we will definitely take action to stop the media from
telecasting foreign films," Kaira suggested.
Bureau Report
