A spectrum of Indian made Fast Moving Consumer Goods

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned Indian television commercials. The move comes on the heels of India’s decision to scrap the Article 370 of the Constitution

In the wake of rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has announced a complete ban on television commercials that are either produced in India or feature Indian talent. PEMRA, in an official statement released on Wednesday, said that the “appearance of Indian characters on Pakistani TV screens aggravates miseries of Pakistanis who are perturbed over Indian atrocities on Kashmiri brethren.”

Invoking Section 27 (a) of PEMRA Ordinance 2002, the authority has banned TVCs of multinational brands such as Dettol, Sunsilk, Surf Excel, Knorr, Pantene, Sufi, Head & Shoulders, Fair & Lovely, Lifebuoy, Safeguard and Fogg. The permission to air Indian television content/channels was withdrawn by the regulatory body in October last year. It is worth mentioning that the Government of Pakistan announced their 73rd Independence Day (August 14, 2019) as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day.’

Here is the press release issued by PEMRA:


The move comes on the heels of the Government of India’s decisions to abrogate the Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir into two union territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The decisions have not gone down well with Pakistan with their PM Imran Khan warning India of a Pulwama-like attack. The February attack had killed more than 40 Indian soldiers, thereby bringing the two countries on the brink of a war. India had responded to the ghastly terror attack by conducting air strikes in Balakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.