Indian minister says ban on Indian TV content will not end 'people to people' contact
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Indian Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh said that a ban on Indian content in Pakistan will not keep the audience from watching the neighbouring country's shows, ANI reported on Thursday.
The comment came a day after Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar made it clear, during the hearing of a case, that the Supreme Court will not allow Indian content to be shown on Pakistani TV channels as it "damages our culture".
"People to people contact won't end with one man's statement," Singh told the Indian media.
In 2016, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had imposed a complete ban on airing Indian content on local television and FM radio channels.
The decision was largely seen as a tit-for-tat move after similar actions were taken by some channels and the entertainment industry in India against Pakistani content and artists.
In 2017, the Lahore High Court had lifted the Pemra-imposed ban, declaring it null and void as the federal government had no objections regarding the same.
The following year, the Supreme Court — while hearing a case filed by the United Producers Association pertaining to the broadcast of foreign content on Pakistani television channels — had reinstated the ban on the transmission of Indian content on local television channels, setting aside the LHC orders.
"They are trying to [obstruct the construction] of our dam and we cannot even ban their channels?" the top judge had fumed as he ordered the broadcast of Indian shows to be "shut down" before adding that the authorities should "only air appropriate content".
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Jan 10, 2019 01:54pm
Not good decision by SC.
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Jan 10, 2019 01:55pm
Won't make much difference. Indian shows are actually not that popular with Pakistanis, at least here in Punjab.
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Jan 10, 2019 01:56pm
hypocrisy at its best India has banned Pak media for decades now but they can only see Pakistan banning them
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Jan 10, 2019 01:59pm
Get a life. You and your Govt. have called-off all bilateral sports ventures. better work on changing your own mindset.
Moreover, the content shown on your public television is not even accepted by your legends. Javed Akhter, Shabana Azmi, Vikram Singh and many already shared their thoughts on the forum of Rekhta foundation for years.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:03pm
And he’s right
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Jan 10, 2019 02:05pm
People to people contact? How can you say that...... please check the records of Indian embassy in Islamabad, how many visas they issued in last 12 months.... keeping passports for 3 months and returned with rejection and even medical visas are not getting issued by your government Mr Minister!
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Jan 10, 2019 02:08pm
What about ban on Pakistani content and artists? That doesnt have impact on people to people contact I think
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Jan 10, 2019 02:10pm
The ban is absurd. Need to be lifted at the earliest.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:13pm
Once a traveler was asked what difference u noticed between pakisan n India. Pat came the reply," only the script has changed but the tea is tea what they call as chaie. Either side of the fence it is sweet but the aroma is same!
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Jan 10, 2019 02:18pm
Both sides movies, TV serials are awful. Pakistan can ban, still can be watched on line.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:24pm
''Politics is everywhere, but reality is sacred. Let’s work to preserve it.'' DAWN 10/1/18
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Jan 10, 2019 02:24pm
Singh is right.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:24pm
Hardy matters for India what CJP indents for Pakistani's to watch on their TV sets
But his orders may open the gates for some 'under the carpet' industry in Pakistan also.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:25pm
I find it hypocritical on his part. If the respected Indian minister really believes that, then he should make an effort to lift the ban on Pakistani artist working in India. Also let the Indian team play bilateral cricket series with Pakistan.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:36pm
The comment came a day after Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar made it clear, during the hearing of a case, that the Supreme Court will not allow Indian content to be shown on Pakistani TV channels as it "damages our culture".
I request the Chief justice see the positives than negative, I as an Indian see the positives as follows rather than negatives.
1. Imran Khan congratulates Kholi of first team from Sub-Continent winning in Australia.
2. Indian kabbadi team is playing in Lahore against Pakistan team.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:38pm
Both the culture are strongly integrated. There is little difference unless Pakistan has changed its culture post independence.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:40pm
The ban was not mean to stop people to people contacts but to stop illegal activities. If you pay the govt for what is published then its ok.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:40pm
If you are so concerned about cultural invasion, please ban Indian movie too...
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Jan 10, 2019 02:42pm
The difference is in the cultural and traditional values. The difference was long seen by Jinnah and Iqbal and we are very grateful for them and thousands others for giving us this country. We need to keep away from elements that go against our values and traditions, the same elements that we obtained independence from.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:42pm
Indians themselves want these shows to shut down. The most degraded content is produced from these shows. Ekta and others give the most boring entertainment to their ppl. we should get rid of these channels asap. Theres Nothing positive to show to our children.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:43pm
So why has India never allowed Pakistan TV to air in India ?
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Jan 10, 2019 02:43pm
There was no need to ban Pakistani artists in India, that was a wrong step. When such thing happens then its better to question and challenge such things rather than do similar things. Pakistan also keep banning Indian movies. But both sides of the border are fully aware of each other's movies and actors/actresses...Not sure why this drama of ban keep coming now and then..
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Jan 10, 2019 02:45pm
Positivity between India and Pakistan should overcome negativity between India and Pakistan.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:47pm
The fact is that Indian content sells in Pakistan and not one can stop people from watching it, people of Pakistan will watch it if government bans it or not.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:49pm
@Kuzey, what's the difference between Gemrmany and France. Please elaborate?
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Jan 10, 2019 02:51pm
Supreme court and government of Pakistan represent people here .Their decisions reflect local aspirations .so relax .your content is not indispensable
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Jan 10, 2019 02:52pm
Yeah people to people contact is needed
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Jan 10, 2019 02:54pm
What is the Indian minister even talking about? We must remember that Pakistani channels are banned in India and Pakistani artists are banned from performing in India.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:55pm
In my opinion Pakistan should also banned YouTube because 99% pakistan watching Indian contains in youtube. Pakistan filter Indian contain in TV channel but can't filter in youtube channel.
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Jan 10, 2019 02:57pm
Pakistani channels show IPL regularly but do they show PSL in india ?
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Jan 10, 2019 03:04pm
Mr VK Singh, its not the one man statement but the voice of Pakistani people.
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Jan 10, 2019 03:05pm
There is no such news in Indian media.
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Jan 10, 2019 03:08pm
Oh, and what about the ban on Pakistani content in India, and the calls for Pakistani actors to be expelled from Indian cinema? Hypocrisy in fine form.
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Jan 10, 2019 03:10pm
He is not wrong
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Jan 10, 2019 03:11pm
@VK Singh You do know that Pakistani artists were barred by the film industry trade bodies to work in the industry. Furthermore every time Pak artists perform in India, the like of RSS makes sure that these artists are driven out of the venues. After all this, don't be surprised at the reaction?
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Jan 10, 2019 03:12pm
Yes please ban all Indian content, they are shown illegally anyways and doesn’t generate any revenue for India.
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Jan 10, 2019 03:13pm
He is right. Though Pakistan channels are not available on this side but they are very popular here thanks to Youtube. Beside their TV dramas, program like Khabarnaak, Mazaaq raat, Hasb e hall, Joke dar joke are much loved and watched here. The persons like Mr. Hasan Nissar, Mr. Rauf Klasra, Dr. Parvez Hoodbhoy and many other command great honour and huge following here.Moreover the Dawn is the most read online english newspaper on this side of border. The majority of the people on both side of border want love and peace between two countries.
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Jan 10, 2019 03:14pm
But Indians shall not be allowed to see Pakistani TV contents
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Jan 10, 2019 03:18pm
Look who is talking. Frankly, Indian contents never appealed to me. It's culturally so different.
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Jan 10, 2019 03:19pm
Issue is, Indian content is heavy on vulgarity and propaganda. We are really happy without it. I have not seen a Bollywood film in a long time.
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Jan 10, 2019 03:23pm
Obviously this man has not fully fathomed the naya Pakistan. Until India learns to behave and sits to resolve kashmir and stops sending government terrorists like kubushan yadev, Pakistan will look down on India and its products.
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Jan 10, 2019 03:24pm
Dear minister... Don't need this statement from you this will not help the matter
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Jan 10, 2019 03:45pm
Hope Pak will stick to the decision. We have seen many flip flops in past. By the way the logic is not clear. What is the similarity between TV show and dam?
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Jan 10, 2019 04:19pm
Good Decision
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Jan 10, 2019 04:27pm
It's a revelation that you and your party are interested in "people to people contact"
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Jan 10, 2019 04:30pm
Very Good. Well Done CJP.
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Jan 10, 2019 04:31pm
"People to people contact won't end with one man's statement,"
Same goes for India banning and mistreating others and themselves in their country
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Jan 10, 2019 04:49pm
Indians should be blocked from our news forums as well in my opinion !
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Jan 10, 2019 04:56pm
With the rise of Pakistan drama Industry Indian dramas are not as popular as they were before 2010
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Jan 10, 2019 04:57pm
But most shows are available on YouTube, and other channel websites. One can easily watch them all on even your smartphones. Will you ban them all too?
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Jan 10, 2019 05:04pm
Were n’t Pakistani artists banned by Indian entertainment industry to work in India? Seems Minster ‘s statement is a smokescreen.
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Jan 10, 2019 05:10pm
Just to be clear, there isn’t much difference in the culture between India and Pakistan.
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Jan 10, 2019 05:18pm
It is not the intent to ban people to people contact, just to keep direction true.
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Jan 10, 2019 05:28pm
India started the ban. Pakistani artits were banned and the TV programs were never even shown. India refuses to play cricket either. I support this ban until India changes its behavior and Pakistanis should show solidarity with their artists.
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Jan 10, 2019 05:39pm
Netflix is anyway better. Being an Indian I do not watch Indian content as frankly it sucks
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Jan 10, 2019 05:42pm
This was long over due, finally done. This is a step in the right direction to save our young generation from indian tv and movie content which had found way to damage our culture.
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Jan 10, 2019 05:50pm
Best decision by CJ Pakistan.
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Jan 10, 2019 06:29pm
@sajjad Razza, PSL is shown in india on channel called D-Sport. Last year I watched it to have look at new bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.
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Jan 10, 2019 06:38pm
Nice.. we have full rights to preserve our cultural values.
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Jan 10, 2019 06:42pm
Simply, there should be NO Indian contents be shown on Pakistani TV and cinemas. Until, India shows our dramas and TV channels along with our films in their country.
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Jan 10, 2019 07:30pm
@citizen, Good decision
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Jan 10, 2019 07:51pm
Indian audience commenting hatefully here, please try to understand. This is not about India versus Pakistan or our content versus yours. We in Pakistan shall not expose our people to item numbers. Please note the vulgarity in your comedy programs. Most Bollywood movies cant be watched with family. It makes sense to ban these. Those who are interested can pick it up on Youtube or other online sources.
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Jan 10, 2019 07:58pm
As you sow, so shall you reap.
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Jan 10, 2019 08:08pm
By the way, those Pakistanis who are criticising this decision should also know that Pakistani content is also banned in India as well.
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Jan 10, 2019 08:38pm
True. You tube provides all contents. More restrictions means more people will be keen to watch
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Jan 10, 2019 08:46pm
Both are wrong. India carries it a bit further by playing politics with the gentleman's game of cricket. How does that gain them anything? Eventually, they will learn that this was a totally wrong step.
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Jan 10, 2019 08:46pm
How about banning western movies as well? They have nothing to do with our culture, atleast India and Pakistan share the same culture historically
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Jan 10, 2019 08:49pm
@jawaid, very good decision but very late
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Jan 10, 2019 08:54pm
@Zak,
Pakistan has history of 70 years and Naya Pakistan only of few days. Are you willing to forgo history of 5000 years for your Naya Pakistan. I wonder.
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Jan 10, 2019 08:57pm
This chapter ( ‘people to people contact’ ) was sabotaged by your own government when BCCI declined to send Indian cricket team to play against Pakistan in the UAE.
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Jan 10, 2019 09:01pm
What the minister is saying is correct, presently only People to people contact is only through TV but by banning it won't stop it, because people will use other means to watch to continue people to people contact.
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Jan 10, 2019 09:37pm
We dont want to watch indian contents. Good decision by supreme court.
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Jan 10, 2019 09:40pm
He is right.
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Jan 10, 2019 10:01pm
@sajjad Razza, yes PSL is shown in some lesser known sports channels... but its a start up. It will catch up. And yes pakistani TV content is available in india. Though it generates little interest in mass but it remains an alternative choice not prime. So its all thr.... but the stakes are high..
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Jan 10, 2019 10:03pm
Oh so now you care about people to people contact. Very convenient. Absolutely right decision by SC. We are just paying in the same coin.
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Jan 10, 2019 11:59pm
What happened to freedom of choice?
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Jan 11, 2019 12:04am
It’s simply not possible, the people to people contact has a linkage to history and can’t be stopped. There are hundreds of couple abroad wherein one partner is Indian or Pakistani.
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Jan 11, 2019 12:10am
India produce only Vulgar content
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Jan 11, 2019 12:20am
If the Indian Channels should be summarily banned in Pakistan, it should be the decision of the Executive branch not the judiciary.
In other countries, Judiciary steps in to issue order, when someone approach the Court requesting to ban a specific book, movie or a cartoon.
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Jan 11, 2019 12:27am
@Shah, If you do not want to watch Indian content, then do not watch it. Simple as that. Why do you need the CJP to tell you that? I can not wait for Jan 20.
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Jan 11, 2019 01:12am
Is he commenting on India's ban on Pakistani programs and artist?
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Jan 11, 2019 01:21am
TV shows and news is part of culture. If your foundations are strong, don’t be afraid of any winds coming from any direction.
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Jan 11, 2019 01:25am
@Parvez , no body will watch..big business loss
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Jan 11, 2019 01:25am
Indians have banned Pakistani channels and films but when Pakistan does the same, Indian minister cries about it
hypocritical Indians!?
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Jan 11, 2019 01:27am
@nationalist ,
government has not put any ban
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Jan 11, 2019 01:28am
what's good what's bad people know you can't stop forcibly ones interest by implimenting rules
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Jan 11, 2019 01:32am
@Shah,
artists are not banned by the governments. some undemocratic elements have made it difficult for the producers to allow pakistani artists.
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Jan 11, 2019 01:37am
Could not watch (L)Teefa in trouble for 1/2 hour on Netflix.CJP not doing a favour by banning Indian contents. This could have help Lollywood to create quality programming.
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Jan 11, 2019 01:46am
Look who is speaking, minster of B J P
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Jan 11, 2019 01:48am
India should change attitude towards neighbour countries. In bangladesh you can watch all indian channel but they are not allowing bangladeshi tv channel to air in india coz of bureaucratic rules. Their is a good viewer in west bengal for bengali channel. Hence india get advantage as their products already known to bd people , no need advertisement.
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Jan 11, 2019 01:52am
We don't want to prompt indian culture in our society, Pak dramas are lot better.
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Jan 11, 2019 01:58am
This particular minister is part of the problem and represents everything that is wrong with the Pak-Indo relationship.
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Jan 11, 2019 02:17am
Useless comment by the minister
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Jan 11, 2019 02:39am
Pakistan actually makes better TV serials than India, there is no need for Bollywood type crass shows in Pakistan
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Jan 11, 2019 03:08am
Pakistani dramas tend to be boring, so don't capture attention of the viewers. Improve the content and viewership will follow.
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Jan 11, 2019 04:32am
@Rahul,
There is Indian content in numbers compared to Pakistani content on Netflix too.:-)
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Jan 11, 2019 05:10am
Childish decisions by both governments. "I ban yours, you ban mine. I don't like you I will ban this and that." When will this end?
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Jan 11, 2019 05:16am
please first convince and lecture your own ppl
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Jan 11, 2019 05:59am
@sajjad Razza, it does get telecast.
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Jan 11, 2019 06:12am
@LAHORI KID, Sikh and Tamil not much in common forget Pakistan.
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Jan 11, 2019 06:31am
Wasn’t he an ex army cheif? There is no people to people content with India. And India banned Pakistani media in India for decades. So stop it
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Jan 11, 2019 06:42am
Allow Pakistani Tv drama etc in India first
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Jan 11, 2019 08:11am
@Chandra Shekar,
You are wrong.
Pakistani medias are banned in India for decades.
Before commenting you should keep the policy of your country in the mind.
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Jan 11, 2019 08:17am
@Parvez ,
Mr. Parvez,
You will never get answer to your question from Indians and their government.
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Jan 11, 2019 08:20am
@Shah,
Mr. Shah,
You are right.
Shameless statement of Indian minister.
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Jan 11, 2019 08:24am
@prakash,
Mr. prakash,
Lift up the banning of Pakistani medias and artistes in India.
The statement of this minister is hypocritical.
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Jan 11, 2019 08:26am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad,
Mr. Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad,
Good comment.
Congratulations.
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Jan 11, 2019 08:30am
@Pakistani,
Mr. Pakistani,
Your comment says truth.
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Jan 12, 2019 09:30pm
Restriction on playing of foreign content to protect domestic culture is not a new thing. In Canada, TV channels are restricted to a maximum amount of foreign content they can carry, mainly to protect Canadian culture from the effects of US culture.
The CJ of Pakistan is doing the right thing by trying to restrict foreign content. The best way will be to impose very high tax on the cable providers who carry Indian, and other foreign, channels. As they pass on the heavy tax to their clients, the demand for foreign content will drop.
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