PEMRA on indecency

This is funny now, PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) issued a notice to some private channels for airing vulgar content, specifically, they said that the channels aired something indecent and presented in a manner which was "disturbing ", "distressing to children" and against "commonly accepted social values". Also, they depicted some obscene behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, drugs and abusive language. 

I really don’t get what does actually PEMRA/MEDIA HOUSES think about social values and behavior. Or how they define this? Because what I watch from my TV, 70-75% aired stuff is disturbing and against social values. All I see is "a love triangle, Saas-bahu unhealthy relationship & dirty politics with bad language" and have been watching this for a long time. Ads regarding feminine products, rubbish morning shows, so-called reality shows and talent hunts also contributing their fair share to pollute the scenario. So, if you are picturing same thing again and again to kids, no wonder they'll start digesting everything and execute.  

There is a lot more in Pakistani society to show in the name of entertainment, we all accept that new generation follows electronic media more rather than books and print media, so let them follow and start showing them what you want to teach them. 

Let's make this simple, I plead to watch American/English TV shows and movies, guilty as charged. Why? Because I have seen a variety over there. They give a friendly version and insight into different walks and departments of the society unlike Pakistan. Name me any Pakistan drama from last decade, with a different/new storyline, all I can see is bed room story. No offence, but everything starts from bedroom and ends there. 

Why there is nothing on Pakistan police, medical department, justice department, education department. There is navy, army and air force, too. We all know that 1122 is doing good in Pakistan but how they are pulling this off we all want to know. I am scared to death of Police department in Pakistan. I want to see a good side. I want to know how is life inside the buildings, not bedrooms.

Show to the society how departments should work, trust me these people will learn and help to make this society worth living. How can we condemn vulgarity and obscenity when we don’t have any choice besides watching worthless "saas bahu controversies" and " dirty politics". When viewers go to international media for variety, you can't endorse "Pakistani ethics" on them. Show something new to let them stick to "your" channels. Then you are in the right position to state your own version of "social values and ethics". 

By the way, media policy endorsed by PEMRA has always been notorious for imposing political expressions by governments rather than stating a neutral version on which all major media houses can agree. So, the question is, " Is it really the 'social or moral misconduct' as a reason behind the ban or government is pulling the strings of non-favourite channels again?"

14th of August

Well, I am excited. 14^th of August was so Green. I have seen so many faces happy, Green, I got so many pictures of my babies, wearing Green for the day.

As compared to my last few years, yesterday it really felt like an emotional roller-coaster ride to my homeland. While in Pakistan, I was same kind of emotional but what they say pardais tu pardais ha.
Pardais makes me think differently about my land which is Pakistan. Patriotism is like a pre-manufactured emotion for any person, but love with Pakistan is different. It’s not like because I born there so it happened to be fall in love with the country, inevitably. I guess it’s a privilege to be born and brought up there. Things are logical for me. I love Pakistani dresses, there is no other place on the earth that beats Pakistani Kamiz/shalwar. It’s marvellous in appearance and comfort level is top. I love delicious food like daal-chawal, Pulao, Biryani, vegetables with typical Pakistani recipes, ammi k morning prathy, sabaz chy on weddings, karhi-chawal and the list goes on. Who says Indian food is all what we eat with variations? Pakistan food has its own legacy. Differences are more vivid to Non-resident Pakistanis as compared to those living within the borders.

No joke, Pakistani khussa, no competition. Sindhi Ajrak, Hyderabadi bangles, Balochi embroidery, Faisalabadi lawns are a few things to name in my priority list being a girl. Even living in such a place where I’ve access to world’s finest items and exposure to international cultures, I still don’t see any parallel to a number of things marked as “Made in Pakistan”.

 
Sometimes, nostalgia drives me crazy. That fantastic music, love-hate relationship with neighbours, I miss my gali where I used to play cricket. I love that language with which I found myself as a poet/writer/blogger. I miss those countless hours spent jiggling with urdu literature. More I got indulged, more I learned. Ohh, the fire for cricket in Pakistan is one of those things that you can’t find anywhere else in the whole world.

Not being a geographical animal let's just be who I am, a practical girl. A fragile witness to the rich cultures of the rest of the world. I feel myself in an appropriate place to make a statement. That is, “Colourful phase of life which I spent in Pakistan can make anyone fall in love with that place”. I am a proud Pakistani.