ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Elec­tronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has issued an advice to private TV channels, asking them to telecast national anthem daily in the morning to promote patriotism.

Pemra has also asked the channels to telecast programmes for children.

“The authority has advised private TV channels to telecast national anthem before the start of everyday transmission as being practised in neighbouring countries to promote patriotism,” says an official announcement on Thursday.

Pemra, which remained unmoved in Ramazan, has “raised serious concerns over excessive religious consumerism and commercial programmes aired during the holy month”.

Take a look: Greed and desire: The new face of Ramazan?

“Such programmes were not only lamented by legislators but also by a large number of people who believed that the programmes were against the norms and violate the sanctity of Ramazan.”

Therefore, the announcement said, the TV channels are directed not to telecast programmes promoting religious consumerism, particularly those violating the sanctity of Ramazan in disregard to Section 20 of the Pemra Act, 2007, and the code of conduct.

Pemra says it has issued the “fresh advice” on the directives of the Senate’s standing committee on information, broadcasting and national heritage conveyed to it on July 3.

Meanwhile, the authority has asked the TV channels to immediately stop rampant airing of “unethical and indecent contents, programmes and songs”.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play