In an official statement, Pemra also asked TV channels to develop healthy programs for the children saying “there is no serious focus on children programming and only couple of foreign channels are presently catering to this need.”
“The authority has advised private TV channels to telecast national anthem before the start of everyday transmission as being practised in neighbouring countries to promote patriotism,” the Pemra said in an announcement.
Pemra has raised “serious concerns over excessive religious consumerism and commercial programmes aired during the holy month”.
The statement said, “Such programmes were not only lamented by legislators but also by a large number of people who believed that the programmes were against the norms and violate the sanctity of Ramazan.”
“The TV channels are directed not to telecast programmes promoting religious consumerism, particularly those violating the sanctity of Ramazan in disregard to Section 20 of the Pemra Act, 2007, and the code of conduct.”
The Pemra, however, did not issue any statement during the Ramazan informing TV channels against airing any programme that is contrary to sanctity of Ramazan.
It said excessive foreign content beyond the permissible limit of 10% in violation of Regulation 18(1)(a) of PEMRA (Television Broadcast Station Operations) regulations-2012.
Pemra says it has issued the “fresh advice” on the directives of the Senate’s standing committee on information, broadcasting and national heritage conveyed to it on July 3.
