Actors have asked the court to limit airtime for Indian dramas on Pakistani TV channels

A group of Pakistani actors protested in Karachi and asked the court to implement a law that restricts the airtime of foreign content on local TV channels.

The United Producers Association tweeted that the group had approached the chief justice alleging that local TV channels were dedicating more than 10% of their airtime to foreign content.

As per the law, only 10 per cent of airtime is allowed for foreign content, while the maximum limit for Indian content is 6pc in 24 hours.

In 2016, Pemra had announced that strict action would be taken against the channels airing foreign content more than the prescribed limit.

Actor Faysal Qureshi, who was present during the protest, says: "There is a law that says TV channels can only run 10% of foreign content during their airtime. But there are some TV channels that flout this law. This is a huge problem, especially during prime time. During prime time if we don't show our local content, it's a big loss for the industry."

"We want to know why the existing law isn't being implemented."

"If I'm involved in a production, there are also hundreds of other people involved in that production. Not just the producers or the cameramen but also numerous vendors. So if one of your slots on TV goes towards an Indian drama or foreign content, hundreds of people lose work," he continued.