PEMRA cautions TV, radio stations over Valentine's Day broadcasts
Regulator claims it received complaints from a large section of society which says the event corrupts our youth.
PEMRA urges TV channels, radio stations to honour religious sentiment for Valentines day programming. DESIGN: JAHANZAIB HAQUE
ISLAMABAD:
The national media regulator on Wednesday asked television and radio stations to avoid offending religious sentiments and “corrupting the nation's youth” in their Valentine's Day broadcasts.
Wednesday’s notification was more of a request than a stricter enforcement of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulator Authority (PEMRA) rules. The watchdog’s circular said that it was acting on complaints that celebrating the day was not in line with "our religious and cultural ethos".
"Such events have been perceived as a source of depraving, corrupting and injuring the morality of Pakistani youth as well as violating Code of Conduct developed by PEMRA," the regulator's letter said.
"All satellite TV channels/FM stations are, therefore requested to honour viewer's sentiments/opinion while conceptualising any programme or celebrating any event connected to The Valentine's Day," it added while pointing towards PEMRA rules of 2009 on the subject.
Valentine's Day is increasingly popular among youngsters, many of whom have taken up the custom of giving cards, chocolates and gifts to their sweethearts to celebrate the occasion.
However, many disapprove of Valentine's Day as a Western import.
A PEMRA official told AFP that the regulator had not banned Valentine's Day programme broadcast, but instead issued a request to channels in the wake of public complaints.
Supporters of religious parties staged a noisy protest against Valentine's Day on Tuesday in the Peshawar, denouncing it as un-Islamic and calling for a "day of modesty" instead.
The student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami rallied outside the Peshawar press club chanting slogans against Valentine's Day, saying it had "spread immodesty in the world".
The national media regulator on Wednesday asked television and radio stations to avoid offending religious sentiments and “corrupting the nation's youth” in their Valentine's Day broadcasts.
Wednesday’s notification was more of a request than a stricter enforcement of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulator Authority (PEMRA) rules. The watchdog’s circular said that it was acting on complaints that celebrating the day was not in line with "our religious and cultural ethos".
"Such events have been perceived as a source of depraving, corrupting and injuring the morality of Pakistani youth as well as violating Code of Conduct developed by PEMRA," the regulator's letter said.
"All satellite TV channels/FM stations are, therefore requested to honour viewer's sentiments/opinion while conceptualising any programme or celebrating any event connected to The Valentine's Day," it added while pointing towards PEMRA rules of 2009 on the subject.
Valentine's Day is increasingly popular among youngsters, many of whom have taken up the custom of giving cards, chocolates and gifts to their sweethearts to celebrate the occasion.
However, many disapprove of Valentine's Day as a Western import.
A PEMRA official told AFP that the regulator had not banned Valentine's Day programme broadcast, but instead issued a request to channels in the wake of public complaints.
Supporters of religious parties staged a noisy protest against Valentine's Day on Tuesday in the Peshawar, denouncing it as un-Islamic and calling for a "day of modesty" instead.
The student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami rallied outside the Peshawar press club chanting slogans against Valentine's Day, saying it had "spread immodesty in the world".