Artists react to Pakistan’s own Netflix-like Streaming Platform

The announcement of an over-the-top (OTT) television (TV) channel like Netflix raised hopes for the Pakistani artists as a digital streaming platform means more content creation and more opportunities.
However, there has been an opposition from public and few artists with Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) being chosen to prepare guidelines for streaming platform.

The Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry publicize it through a tweet.

پاکستان کا پہلا OTT لانچ ہونے جا رہا ہے، (Netflix کی طرز پر) ہم نے ٹیکنالوجی کا معاملہ حل کر لیا ہے PEMRA کو کہا ہے کہ وہ Content پر گائیڈ لائین تیار کر لے جوں ہی پیمرا کی گائیڈ لائیں ملتی ہے ہم پارئیویٹ کمپنیز سے کہیں گے کہ ہمارے ساتھ ملیں اور OTT سروس شروع کریں

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) October 23, 2020

He asserted that the digital platform was ready-to-go while the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has been directed to prepare guidelines for the content to be uploaded.

The project would be initiated under the public private partnership (PPP) as quoted by Chaudhry.

The minister said they were waiting for the PEMRA guidelines for launching the service.

The announcement of an OTT was welcomed by the Pakistani artists with open arms. Actor Humayun Saeed termed the launch of a streaming platform a ‘much need initiative’ that would usher in a new era of opportunities for the young talent in the country. The actor also said that the initiative would help local content to reach global audience.

This is such a great news! Thank you @fawadchaudhry and @MinistryofST for this much needed initiative. It will open doors of opportunities for many many talented people and eventually help Pakistan reach a truly global audience. Insha Allah 🇵🇰 https://t.co/d8vKJmCmEW

— Humayun Saeed (@iamhumayunsaeed) October 23, 2020

Followed by female artist Hareem Farooq

Bravo @fawadchaudhry Lets make this happen IA 👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/K7eSBdbnHi

— Hareem Farooq (@FarooqHareem) October 23, 2020

Senator Faisal Javed Khan also hailed the minister on this ‘Great Initiative’

Great Initiative @fawadchaudhry Well-done!! https://t.co/VzCtzAcmwL

— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) October 23, 2020

But some aren’t happy with PEMRA being a formulator of guidelines.

Osman Khalid Butt, a TV artist, asked the minister if some other entity could prepare guidelines as the authority had a past of issuing a show-cause notice to dramas like Udaari for highlighting child abuse.

Can someone – literally anyone else prepare this content guideline.
Let’s not forget PEMRA issued a show-cause notice to Udaari over ‘immoral content’ because it was highlighting child abuse. https://t.co/S6ZfuOJkUr

— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) October 23, 2020