Pemra bans 'immoral' condom advertisement
Condom company, Josh, was previously slapped with a ban two years ago after airing a humourous but risque ad
A screengrab of the advertisement
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) banned on Monday an advertisement by a condom brand, calling it "immoral" and contrary to religious norms after receiving a deluge of complaints from the public.
Pakistan is notoriously strait-laced when it comes to matters of sex and family planning is considered a taboo topic by many.
The condom company, Josh, was previously slapped with a ban two years ago after airing a humourous but risque advertisement featuring a leading model.
Read: PEMRA bars TV channels from airing contraceptive ad
The advertisment features a large man approaching a roadside stall to ask for a small pack of condoms. He is followed by a second man, who grins widely as he requests a larger pack, all the while making a gesture with his hands that can be interpreted as lewd.
The entire street then breaks out in song and "bhangra" dance in celebration.
Fakharuddin Mughal, a spokesman for the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, said the agency had received "scores of complaints against the telecast of an objectionable and indecent advertisement of contraceptive".
"Pemra, in its directive has pointed out that the advertisement is generally being perceived as indecent, immoral and in sheer disregard to our socio-cultural and religious norms," he added.
Read: Thanks for nothing Mathira and Josh condoms
Discussing contraception in public is taboo in Pakistan, though some experts warn the population is growing too fast for the country's natural resources to support.
According to the United Nations a third of Pakistanis have no access to birth control even though its population is growing by more than two per cent a year.
Pakistan is notoriously strait-laced when it comes to matters of sex and family planning is considered a taboo topic by many.
The condom company, Josh, was previously slapped with a ban two years ago after airing a humourous but risque advertisement featuring a leading model.
Read: PEMRA bars TV channels from airing contraceptive ad
The advertisment features a large man approaching a roadside stall to ask for a small pack of condoms. He is followed by a second man, who grins widely as he requests a larger pack, all the while making a gesture with his hands that can be interpreted as lewd.
The entire street then breaks out in song and "bhangra" dance in celebration.
Fakharuddin Mughal, a spokesman for the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, said the agency had received "scores of complaints against the telecast of an objectionable and indecent advertisement of contraceptive".
"Pemra, in its directive has pointed out that the advertisement is generally being perceived as indecent, immoral and in sheer disregard to our socio-cultural and religious norms," he added.
Read: Thanks for nothing Mathira and Josh condoms
Discussing contraception in public is taboo in Pakistan, though some experts warn the population is growing too fast for the country's natural resources to support.
According to the United Nations a third of Pakistanis have no access to birth control even though its population is growing by more than two per cent a year.