ISLAMABAD, April 26: The cable operators association of Pakistan has assured the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority of abiding Pemra rules and regulations, and refraining from showing pornographic contents.

The agreement to this affect was reached after a two-day meeting presided over by the Pemra general manager (CTV/Policy wing), Yousuf Aziz.

The Pemra had also decided to launch a countrywide campaign against the cable operators showing obscene programmes in violation of authority’s code of ethics or poor quality services in violation of clause 5 of the Pemra Ordinance.

The decision had been made in view of the complaints received by the authority. About 1,000 licensed cable operators were also informed about the apprehensions of the public through letters.

Attended by various cable TV operators and foreign channel providers, the meeting discussed issues related to the complaints of obscenity. It was also resolved that both cable TV operators and foreign channel distributors should come up with their financial feasibility and monitory rationale to finalize determination of rates proposed by both the parties.

The cable operators also assured that they would carefully monitor all content oriented channels and any material of pornographic nature, vulgarity or obscenity would be blocked through pre-reviewing, parental lock and other corrective measures in order to provide safe, healthy and constructive family entertainment to the viewers.

The cable operators association had also given written assurance that they would adhere to the code of ethics.

The Pemra had also issued a list of eligible channels and had asked that operators should keep in view the social sensitivities of the relevant region while formulating any programme policy.

Besides channels having no relevance to country’s social cultural and religious values should also be avoided.