THE rapid expansion of Pakistan’s media industry has been accompanied by reservations about the quality of content. Admittedly, there have been instances — particularly in the electronic media — where the limits of civilised discourse have been transgressed. This can be put down to the electronic media still being a young industry and the inability of channels to self-regulate. To some, therefore, the ‘content regulations’ drafted and approved by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority last month may seem a good idea in theory, containing as they do clauses meant to ensure, for example, that all programming complies with the country’s laws and has nothing derogatory to any religion, sect or community.

In theory is as far as it goes, however. Should content codes such as these be put in place, it would soon become a case of ‘give an inch and they’ll take a yard’ vis-à-vis freedom of speech and the ability to freely report and critique. The proposed code is worded so loosely that it is a potential tool for censorship and intimidation of media personnel and organisations. One worrying clause, for example, says that no material can be aired that “is against the national interest, brings into contempt Pakistan or its people or tends to undermine its integrity or solidarity […]” Who will decide on matters as nebulous as ‘national interest’? Potentially, such a clause could be used to stifle critique. Similarly, the document proposes to prohibit footage that can “cause depression” or that ridicules a person or state institution. Defining such things is too arbitrary a matter to be made a blanket requirement.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that no industry ought to operate entirely free of regulations, and in terms of Pakistan’s media landscape there needs to be more self-regulation. Organisations need to ensure that their programming adheres to the highest editorial and aesthetic standards, so that no need for intervention is perceived. These matters could be handled by forums such as the Pakistan Broadcasters Association, or through moves such as the ‘code of conduct’ agreed upon by heads of major news networks in 2009 to standardise professional guidelines.