Private Channels: Another Threat to Cultural Identity

Electronic media, especially private channels are just in a row to increasing their viewership. And they want to increase more and more, so they use both legal and illegal ways. For this purpose, they pick any type of Indian programs, these programs are vulgar, they spoil the teen agers or even against to our culture, but all are being aired from Pakistani private channels. Although their programs are legally allowed that they have copyrights to telecast, they do not are ethically and absurdly allowed.

Now here the question arises, that why these channels prefer to telecast Indian programs even on any occasion. On the occasion of New Year, it is understood that any Indian Movie would be telecast from Private Pakistani channels. It is Valentine’s Day, award ceremony or other program would be telecast. Or even on the occasion of religious events, they prefer to telecast Indian program. No doubt quality of these programs is mind blowing, they have ability to attract their viewers but again it is all about the negative impact on society. These programs are not in favor of our culture. And obviously to hope with youngsters to follow our culture after watching such types of weird programs on their own country’s channels is not more than a dream or misconception.

If we meet the gaze of history of these channels, we see that their starting was mind blowing every one recites the praise of these channels due to their hit Dramas, but by the passage of time, these channels adopted the strategy of Indian programs. At first, they started to telecast 100-600 episodes of Dramas which has never been seen in the history of Pakistani dramas. Then they started to telecast proper Indian programs which are obviously sometimes not able to watch with family and even they are uncensored. Secondly, the duration of these programs is not so ignorable. Any Indian movie consists of 2.50 hours to 3 hours, any award ceremony consists of 3 to 4 hours and all this is just the wastage of time. We can say that approximately we spend more than 7-8 hours to watch Indian programs on Pakistani channels in a week. And the remaining breach has fulfilled by Indian Reality Shows which cross the limits and shows even what not the culture of India is. Big boss, Khatron k Khilaadi is one of the worst examples of this whole scenario. Big Boss is the limit of impropriety and should be banned in Pakistan. Khatron K Khiladi is not vulgar but the stunts they show could be dangerous for teen agers and could be impressive for them.

If these channels present such types of things to complete their 24 hours transmission cycle and they do not have their own new productions to telecast, then this is the lame excuse and they have option to telecast old Pakistani movies which breaks the record throughout the world. Pakistani old reality shows also good option to present on different occasions that they set the trend in history. Other good option for these private channels is to arrange telefilms, drama and movie competitions to incite new hidden talent of country. If they do these things to increase their viewership then it is also a lame excuse because viewers have option to view Indian programs on Indian channels.

The only acceptable reason of such kinds of things is the copy-cat nature of Pakistani media. Otherwise, there is no any other reason left to telecast Indian programs without even censor which is obviously adverse to their policy. Even PEMRA is not taking any type of action against all these things. and obviously no one can put finger on these channels to present such type of unethical Indian programs because they have reason that all this is International production or nor theirs.

Apart from all that, this whole scenario could be acceptable, if any Indian channel telecast some Pakistani programs. But obviously it is unbelievable, in fact impossible because Indian channels are consent to telecast their endless boring dramas and some of their cheap movies but not agree to telecast Pakistani amazing dramas and memorable movies. Then why Pakistani private channels are so eager to telecast Indian programs. It is the main question of our society which should be answered.