KARACHI, Aug 2: The federal government, on Saturday, asked cable operators to strictly observe the ban on broadcast-ing Indian television chan-

nels, which was imposed

some 19 months back amid mounting tensions with arch-rival India.

Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Mian Javed said, “We have (re)enforced the ban, as these channels do not come under the approved eligible list.”

Pakistan had slapped the ban on relaying Indian television channels over private cable networks after December 2001.

Hoping that the ban would be lifted with the recent peace overtures, cable operators had started showing Indian television channels. The renewed calls for the ban came as a surprise to many viewers, who were pleased at the resumption of Indian channels.

“The timing is surprising as the ban has come when the peace process between Pakistan and India has started,” Rubina Jabber, a house-wife, said.

However, Mr Javed denied that the enforcement had anything to do with politics. “The ban on Indian channels also has some economic implications, as most of the Indian channels are attracting Pakistani advertisements in large numbers,” an official said on request of anonymity.

The ban had affected a number of channels, including Star Plus, Star News, Zee Cinema, Zee Gold, Sony and B4U, while the PEMRA had also imposed a ban on broadcasting Indian DVDs and VCDs over cable networks, a senior official said.

Chairman Cable Operators Association of Pakistan Khalid Sheikh confirmed that they had been told not to relay Indian channels.

“We will suffer a great financial loss, as people will discontinue watching cable television, when they will not find Indian channels over it,” Mr Sheikh told AFP.

Cable operators are desperately negotiating with the PEMRA to allow relaying Indian television channels. “No such ban has been imposed on the shops renting or selling Indian movies and compact discs, and the rental business is expecting to boom as the ban on television stations is re-enforced,” said Mohammad Irfan, owner of a video shop in Clifton.—AFP