Pakistan bans contraceptive advertisements on TV, radio

Islamabad: Pakistan has banned airing advertisements of contraceptives on television and radio after complaints that such "undesired" commercials make children inquisitive about the use of the family planning products.

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) imposed the ban last week after it received complaints from parents against commercials of contraceptive, birth control and family planning products on electronic media.

"General public is very much concerned on the exposure of such products to the innocent children, which get inquisitive on features and use of the products," Pemra said in a notification.

Parents have "shown apathy" on "undesired" advertisements of such products and demanded a ban on their airing, it further said. The regulatory body warned of legal actions against media organisations failing to follow the directives on such ads.

Pemra last year banned an advertisement by a condom brand, calling it "immoral" and contrary to religious norms. Pakistan is a highly conservative society where discussion of topics even remotely connected to sex is considered as taboo.

The ban came despite a government initiative to encourage birth control in Pakistan. The country's population is growing by around 1.8 per cent a year and is estimated to peak at 240 million in year 2030.