Pakistani Content Off-Limits in India as Govt Puts Ban in National Interest

Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has banned all Pakistan-produced content, including web series, films, podcasts and songs, from OTT and other media streaming platforms operating in India, effective today. In an advisory issued on May 8, the I&B ministry said the decision by the government is in the “interest of national security”. 

The development comes amidst escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. 

“...all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content...having its origin in Pakistan with immediate effect," said the I&B ministry on May 8.

Ministry’s decision comes just a day ahead of the release of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s film ‘Abir Gulaal’ in India.

The government’s move to ban media content is another big setback for Pakistan’s economy especially as its entertainment industry has a huge fan following and viewership in India.

A few days back government imposed a ban on Pakistani artists, nearly 16 YouTube channels for allegedly “disseminating provocative and false content” and Instagram accounts of popular Pakistani actors, including Hania Aamir and Mahira Khan. 

To counter India’s move, the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) had taken Indian songs sung by veterans like Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar off the air from Pakistani radio channels. 

Prior to this, the government had terminated the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and banned the use of its airspace by Pakistani airlines. 

“...the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism,” India’s Cabinet Committee on Security had said.

The governments of both the countries had adopted a similar move of banning films in 2019 following the Balakot strike. The move had more severe impact on Pakistan’s economy as its contribution to India’s box office collection is between 4-6% whereas Pakistan’s film industry’s reliance on Bollywood and Hollywood contents is around 70%, the MoneyControl had earlier reported.