MOST ads shown on TV channels are much below the required standard. A good number of these ads are highly disgusting and irritating besides having no relevance or connection to the products or services offered.

In most cases, the level of volume of the ads is kept much higher than the actual programmes. This necessitates the viewers to keep the remote control device in hand all the time for instantly lowering the volume as soon as they start appearing. Why can’t the ads be aired at the volume- level of other broadcasts?

Almost all the leading newspapers have their TV channels as well. Complaints and suggestions to this effect are not entertained by many newspapers.

The viewers are at a loss to understand what the watch-dog of the TV channels — Pemra — has been doing. This institution appears more interested in ensuring that no anti-government contents are aired by private channels.

Whose duty is it to rid the viewers of the mental torture? The only solution that comes to mind is to change the channel or switch the TV set off.

Anis Siddiqui

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2017