M. M. ALAM
ISLAMABAD: Argument against airing of contraceptives, birth control and family planning products is that often four generations (grand-parents, parents, children and grand children) watch a program ensemble. The cynics maintain that when such an advertisement is aired children start asking questions about them and hence it becomes very embarrassing for the elders to explain.
While population bomb is the biggest dilemma of this country, it is said that contraceptives and abortions etc are either anti-religion or unethical. Now what to do? Either one will be accused of some sort of sacrilege or will have to face the vengeance of ostriches at the higher echelon of administration.
PEMRA maintains: “This is with reference to advertisements being aired on various satellite TV channels/FM Radios, marketing contraceptive/birth control/family planning products. PEMRA has received complaints with regard to advertising of contraceptive products being aired on electronic media. General public is very much concerned on the exposure of such products to the innocent children, which get inquisitive on features / use of the products. Parents have shown apathy on marketing. Advertisement of such products and demanded its ban on satellite TV channels and FM Radios. In view of the above all Satellite TV Channels/ FM Radio Licensees are therefore directed to immediately stop airing of such contraceptive products on their respective networks, failing which Authority will be constrained to initiate legal actions under PEMRA laws”.
Crux of the matter is that Pakistan is doomed if the population growth is not controlled. The fainthearted or disingenuous are least interested in finding a way out to educate the populace about this predicament.