ISLAMABAD: Newspapers and magazines that are found to publish lewd advertisements of films and thereby trade in obscenity will henceforth be liable to deterrent action under the Press and Publication Laws. Advice for such action has already been given to provincial Governments by Federal Office of Information which in a Press Note here today [May 24] warned offending publications that if they continued to publish lewd film advertisements they would be deprived of any privileges they would otherwise claim from the Government.

While drawing attention to the serious notice taken by the Federal Government, the Press Note discloses that the Prime Minister has issued a firm directive that trade in obscenity, which according to it is one of the most vicious forms of exploitation, should immediately be stopped. It reminds that some newspapers, including even a few claiming national circulation, keep on publishing such film advertisements which deliberately employ salacious language and are clearly meant to appeal to prurient tastes. Besides in some of these advertisements, suggestive names are given to films and their real titles conveniently omitted.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2025