NEW DELHI, Oct 21: Though Pakistan imposed a blanket ban on airing Indian content beginning from 1500 hrs today, India made it clear that it is not going to take any retaliatory move.
Questioned about the decision of Pakistan Electronic Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to ban the Indian content, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said,”We are not going to ban on airing Pakistani content here.”
The spokesperson termed the PEMRA decision “unfortunate. “It is an unfortunate development which displays a lack of self-confidence on the part of Pakistan,” he said.
There was, Mr Swarup said, no ban airing Pakistani serials in India. “You can see Pakistani serials on channels such as Zindagi.”
The PEMRA directed all satellite television channels and radio stations to abide by the blanket ban. It said licences of TV channels and radio stations that go against the ban will be cancelled without any showcause notice.
Bollywood films and TV serials are popular in Pakistan with Indian news anchors being household names in the neighbouring country. Opinion was sharply divided on banning content and artistes on both sides of the divide.
The Motion Picture Producers Association of India had recently passed a resolution barring Pakistani actors and technicians from working in the country (UNI)