We need some kind of advertising standards agency which can penalise companies making false claims.
KARACHI: I would like to draw the attention of those who operate our private television channels to the claims made by many of the advertisements that they run. Several recent adverts make all kinds of claims, including some related to health and cosmetic matters, and in almost all cases, the basis for the claim is never provided. I have seen adverts on television claiming to control diabetes, cholesterol, height, one’s complexion and so on. I have sent letters of complaints to PEMRA, to the television channels directly but all to no avail.
Perhaps we need some kind of advertising standards agency which can at least ensure that those companies which profess to make such claims can back them up. And those making false ones are penalised.
Syed Fawwad Hussain
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2011.
