He said that all major Pakistani entertainment channels are gradually increasing the ratio of foreign and Urdu dubbed content during prime time slots leading to the collapse of the local self-developed, flourishing drama industry. He added that the government should provide protection to its own local drama industry as happens in the rest of the countries world-wide. He claimed that the growth of the local entertainment TV channels owe its progress to the local TV production industry.
Khawaja said that drama producers and artists believed that local entertainment content might not be preferred by the channels anymore due to their rising interest in foreign content including Indian, Turkish and Spanish in sheer violation of Pemra rules. "This trend has seriously threatened the very existence of the already very nascent Pakistani entertainment industry providing jobs to 18,000, including actors, writers, directors, cameramen, set designers, editors, sound engineers, lighting staff, beauticians and dress designers; and over 100,000 indirectly," he added.
There will be an imminent loss of millions of rupees investment as production houses are likely to be shut down gradually with the rise of foreign or Urdu dubbed content on channels, UPA chief said. On the occasion, Asif Raza Mir, Secretary General UPA said that Pemra should immediately review its regulations and redefine foreign content by excluding Urdu dubbed content from this category.
Mir urged that Pemra's code of ethics should strictly be enforced and the authority should also revisit its rules about landing rights. TV actor and producer Humayun Saeed said that Pemra should include UPA as a permanent stakeholder during formulation of any policy directly and indirectly affecting the local TV production industry. He demanded that Pemra abolish its law permitting 10% foreign content on private channels as the local industry has enough capacity to cater to the requirements of channels through its quality content.
Seasoned artiste Abid Ali vowed that the local drama industry was highly competent and could compete with the foreign drama industry provided it is given a level playing field. Actress Saba Hameed demanded that the Federal Government introduce fresh duty regime for all the TV content imported into Pakistan. A large number of renowned TV actors and actresses were present in KP during the press conference.