THE DIRTY WAR OF ADVERTISING!

Since the times are changing we are moving on to modernization. Our advertising industry is also incorporating aspects some of which are culturally misfit. However, let’s not be too critical as they are catering to the new generation. They only show what we want to see. But taking that point forward, are we forgetting the concept of socially responsible marketing? How important it is to be socially responsible when it comes to marketing? We in Pakistan are making advertisements that not only promote unethical ideas but we have no policies to actually ban such ads.

Now most of you are thinking this happens all over the world. Why am I only pointing Pakistan? Well because I care about the people of Pakistan. So my concern is that why are the other marketers forgetting this point. What exactly am I talking about? Well… wait a bit cause I have examples to quote and show. So, as the advertising war becomes more competitive, advertisers are implementing unethical standards and calling it creativity. “Show the people modernization and they will accept it.” Now here our audience is at fault because none of us actually complain. Right now my blog post will be read by many but only a few would agree. Reason? Modernization? Acceptance of unethical practices for fun and entertainment!

According to some people I know they say it’s being open minded that counts…but isn’t media one of the influential aspects of Pakistan? Don’t they have a responsibility to show content that is good for society rather than negative? Enough of my blabbing let me prove this to you with the example below. We have all seen this ad many times on TV but I am sure only 5% of the people actually noticed what all is wrong here.

Is this dress is acceptable by all? Aren’t we we promoting unethical dressing? However is it okay to publicly promote this through your brand? Endorsing something that is wrong makes it worse doesn’t it?

So after watching this ad what message would the youth receive? However I am writing this post in a naive hope that agencies would start to think on what they are promoting.

Apart from the above "Fresh Up" ad we have all seen campaigns being made by Fair & Lovely  and now we have Fair & Handsome. Where they are openly promoting the concept that to be successful you have to look beautiful and fair. Yes no matter how much we object to this; such campaigns have been running for decades now and none of us have been able to stop them. But my question is why not?

So now my question is; will we actually perform any check on the content being posted and approved?

Great Art by "Bilal Lashari"

Despite being a victim of suicide attacks and other brazen terrorist acts, which happen with such frequency that it is hard to keep a count, Pakistan has become a punching bag for the foreign media and also its regional detractors who accuse it of being the source and centre of terrorism. This narrative has been peddled so effectively that despite its denials and provision of evidence to prove its innocence the country has been pushed to the corner and has been condemned unheard.

‘Waar’ is an attempt at providing an antithesis, a Pakistani perspective on the menace of terrorism, which it would not be wrong to say, is not its creation, rather a result of global power politics. The movie primarily focuses on the element of foreign involvement in relation to the problem of terrorism Pakistan is facing. It shows how the country is itself a victim of terrorism, which being funded from across the border. Although no country has been named, the finger clearly points at our larger neighbour.

The movie has some very well executed and impressive action sequences involving terrorists and security forces. Written by Hassan Waqas Rana and directed by Bilal Lashari, it has an impressive cast comprising Shaan, Shamoon Abbasi, Ali Azmat, Ayesha Khan and Meesha Shafi. The director has pulled out all the stops to make it a worthy effort and get the message across. Shaan, as always, has given a very convincing performance with an impeccable dialogue delivery and accompanied some extremely convincing facial expressions. Shown as a victim of terrorism, he is on a mission to purge the country of the cancer of terrorism.

Equally remarkable is Shamoon Abbasi who, as the bad guy, has given his best and will make the audience hate his character. Other actors, too, are no less, with Meesha Shafi and Aisha Khan thoroughly engaged in character. The movie is partly in English, with Urdu subtitles, which gives the impression that it is not meant for local consumption only and the producer/director had the international audience in mind when they took the decision to have it bilingual.

Which brings us to the dialogues and dubbing. Although a few strong words have been used in some scenes, the dialogues are full of impact. The actors have pulled off a neat performance with regard to dialogue delivery in English. Since the movie deals with the issue of terrorism and counter-terrorism, it was sure to have fight scenes. The action scenes have been directed well. The way actors are at ease with the use of arms shows that some level of military support is there, which would not be surprising, given the fact that the armed forces at the forefront of the fight against terrorism and have taken a number of casualties, and have ever reason to present a counter-narrative.

The plot is fairly gripping and the audience will enjoy the movie, if not for any other reason, then for its foraying into a subject that has not been explored before. Overall, the movie is good and the audience should expect a good offering

By Muhammad Salman Khalid

Source: http://showbizspice.com/movie-review-waar/

Role of Media in Pakistan.....

Media in any country has a significant role to play in the country’s success. Either it could help the country achieve its objectives by highlighting the problems of its citizens or it could spoil everything by diverting the attention of people from important issues towards insignificant issues. The role of Pakistani media has been in question for a long time. The first time media was given full freedom and independence was during the time of former President Pervez Musharraf. How would Mr Musharraf have known that the same media who he allowed to practice full freedom of expression would one day turn its back against him and propagate to remove him from power? Such is the power of media that it was able to remove a President from his post by propagating against him. At times the Pakistani media just like media in other countries includes sensationalism in its news. The already frightened nation of the country gets even more frightened when bomb blasts are sensationalized by showing dead bodies of people. Everyone in the country has their own personal interests and so is the case for Pakistani media. The Pakistani media has no interest in the betterment of the country. They are just running a business and their aim is to maximize profits. They only show news or write news which would sell and would allow them to earn huge profits. While with all the negatives Pakistani media has, although unintentional but it has actually done some wonders for the country. The most prominent and useful role media played was in freeing the judiciary and making it independent. It gave full coverage to the lawyers’ movement during the time of Mr Musharraf and it was largely the media’s efforts which allowed them to have their way which was in line with the interests of the country. The role of media also deserves appreciation for covering the natural disasters which have taken place in the country. When the disastrous earthquake hit the northern areas of the country in 2005, the Pakistani media did an amazing job by providing top coverage to the entire event and appealing to the people for help. They aired advertisement free television programs for hours in which they called various artists and celebrities from all over the country who appealed from the entire nation for contribution of funds. Same was the case when floods hit Pakistan in 2010. Many of the anchors along with their team visited the flood affected areas and highlighted the miserable condition of the people over there. What governs Pakistan’s electronic media is a regulatory board name Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). This regulatory board has been a mere dummy in the country as it has very rarely put a stop to the negative role of media. It only performs the task of giving out licenses to various channels so that they can be aired on television. The impact a country’s media could create calls for greater responsibility by newspaper and television owners. There are times when they should put their personal interests at the back of their mind and show or write things that could be beneficial for the country and please stop this race of breaking first news just be original. - See more at: http://www.youngjournalist.pk/pakistan/role-of-media-in-pakistan/#sthash.Ji7Osqtb.dpuf

Nida Yasir’s Morning Show Spreading Vulgarity

Nida Yasir who is an actress, model and producer has wide experience of media industry for past several years. Nida is hosting Good Morning Pakistan that was earlier hosted by Dr. Shaista Lodhi, who is now the morning show host at Geo TV. Nida has also acted in various sitcoms, dramas on various channels. She is daughter of famous TV director Kazim Pasha and wife of the producer, actor Yasir Nawaz.

Being a host Nida carries out the show well but the content, the message show presents is not acceptable. For past several episodes and weeks the show has been airing weddings. The host, celebrity, people on the show carries their get up in the wedding style, dancing on Indian songs, wearing coats of make up and heavy dresses.

Female actresses from showbiz which are invited on morning shows wedding weeks wear very exposing outfits which are not acceptable in our society.

Without any use, such marriages which bring no good to anyone are aired. Mingling of men and women on the TV shows is not good things and the women highly dislike such things. A morning show is seen to aware females about various issues that can add up to their morning in a blissful manner with some good, thought provoking things and not taken from Indian culture.

The morning shows telecasted on our local media channels are one of those shows which is taking our society on a very negative path. A morning show is thought to inculcate moral, good values in the society with informative things being talked upon and shown but the show presented by our hosts do the very opposite of it.

Some of the photos from the morning show is showing that all these activities are not from our culture nor it represents our religion.

Source: Awamipolitics.com

Political Talk Shows: Are They Making Or Breaking The Country?

In the last 4-5 years, specifically in Pakistan, media has been through a lot of ups and downs in order to achieve complete freedom of speech, as it has always been under strict Govt restrictions from when Pakistan came into being. Recently during Musharraf’s regime a few restrictions were lifted off, but during the final 2 years of his regime the media came under direct attack by the dictator. The civil society, political forces and almost everyone joined hands with the media in its struggle for freedom. They went through physical and mental torture, and, eventually their efforts paid off. Therefore people hold great emotional attachment with the media. The general public tends to believe in whatever is said by the newscasters and anchor persons for that matter. The media literally puts words into listeners’ mouth.

    Political talk shows are the most watched TV shows in Pakistan. Their ratings are above any other kind of entertainment shows on the television right now. It has become a form of entertainment. Pakistani political scene changes every day, so we are left with some hot topic to be discussed all the time. Therefore talk shows everyday have a lot to discuss. The anchor persons these days have claimed to become public spokesperson. Some of them are doing a very good job but some take full advantage of such situation in creating negativity in the minds of people. Anchor persons and some investigative journalists instead of being analytical, which is their job as a journalist, start giving strong views against or in favor of someone or something, and make sure that everyone believes in whatever they say. These are one of the non-state actors that our govt reminds us about every other day. Some of the talk shows namely “CAPITAL TALK “hosted by Mr.Hamid Mir and “ KAL TAK WITH JAVED CHOUDHARY “ by Mr.Javed Choudhary are thought to be anti- government talk shows. It is said that such talk shows and their hosts are paid by anti-government organization and sometimes even by the some opposing political forces.

    In the end I would like to conclude that today media in Pakistan has come though a long way, and has emerged as a powerful medium for the youth of Pakistan, to express themselves.  However with this mode of power a great degree of responsibility is also attached. The anchor persons should use this power fairly. Rather than imposing their views as final verdicts, they should just create awareness among the general public and let the common man decide on the concerned matter itself.

Author : Ayesha Jamil

State of media in Pakistan

A LONG time ago the church was very powerful in Europe. So powerful that if anybody spoke against the priest or pastor, he was punished to the extent that his or her generations remembered. The common punishment was burning alive on the stakes.

The church used to poke its nose in all affairs, may it be social, political or religious. In fact, what they never did was reformation of mankind which was their primary job.

If anybody tried to pinpoint their own shortcomings, they knocked him off forcefully.

Finally, people revolted and the result is that today there is no political or social interference by them. Now the priest remains in his ambit, but he is deeply respected.

Our Chief Justice stood in front of a powerful ruler. He stood rightly and everybody supported him. As he started gaining power, he also started ‘interfering’ in all matters.

He tried to reform all the departments but forgot his own. The tiring result less justice has been thriving with full swing for the last so many years.

Every day we listen that the Chief Justice has ordered the production of missing persons in two weeks or putting on hold any shabby deal.

But we never hear him ordering all the courts to settle the cases in two months failing which the judges will face the consequences. He never summoned any judge of any court for any wrong decision or delay.

Today, our mighty media is a reinless horse. They ridicule anybody they like. They heroically go to any public office and show their weaknesses and wrongdoings to the whole world.

In search of ‘breaking news’, they first act then think. How unfortunate it was when they portrayed Zamurud Khan as a hero in Malik Sikandar episode. Unfortunately, the media have failed to examine their own weaknesses. Gone are the days when before a bad news sad music would be aired.

Now before and after the news of killing of 100 innocent civilians, same pompous music is played and commercials with dances throw salt on the wounds.

There is a long list but limited space. One advice to the Pakistani media: watch BBC News and see how many commercials are telecast when the anchor talks to someone on the telephone.

How many times does the anchor ask the guest to remain on line till they take a commercial break? At least I have stopped watching you.

Impact of Indian media on Pakistan

Indian movies and dramas have perilous impact on Pakistan’s media, culture and public. If we talk about TV dramas, the one leading channel of India is Star Plus, which is now favorite TV channel of Pakistani, almost more than other TV channels. Government did try to ban this TV channel but people protests and wants it back. There was a time when Indian drama makers admitted themselves that Pakistani dramas are fabulous and admirable than Indian dramas, but if we see current situation people are more inspire from Indian dramas. Star plus and other private TV channels of India has impact on our public, they show more their culture in their dramas rather than story. Mostly scene of their dramas shows that family is busy in warship of God, in their dramas they mostly show their religion or they are celebrating Hindu customs, in all TV channel in their dramas they regularly present their culture, their traditional events like holy, devali, rakhi, and karva chaut etc, they present their families in heavy jewelry, and that attract Pakistani woman. The ladies saw heavy jewelries wearing by Indian women in Indian dramas they made stupendous perception about India and they impress from Indian culture that in every event family gift heavy jewelry to their ladies but they neglect the fact that it in not actual India, in India half public is suffering from poverty and mostly people live in below poverty line, they are so many ethnic conflicts in India and Muslim are treating like minority in India, especially on those areas where the Hindus are in majority at that places Muslims are not allows to celebrate their tradition. India is not actual that India what they show in their dramas, they only show here positive aspect of their society, their rich culture, their religion, patriotism and loyalty with their country, these kind of thing has also impact in mind of young generation, especially on children, because if they see Indian dramas they will also made positive sketch of India in their mind, now children are more aware from Hindu culture and Hindu tradition than their own culture if they see dramas in which India show loyalty toward their own country and religion than what type of massage Pakistani children are getting, government must think over it, first government should ban over star plus and other Indian private TV channels. Because of Indian media Pakistani Childeren are more aware from Hindu culture and Hindi language than their own culture and language, childerens mix Hindi words in Urdu language and use it in their daily routine. The parents can monitor what their children are watching and the Government can monitor what foreign channels are displaying by setting up a watch committee. Pakistan channel must make those types of dramas in which they should promote our own religion duties because some our TV channels also show Hindu culture in dramas, they must show our own tradition, culture, and customs. Our country is rich in culture many tourists come from whole world to see Kalash culture and see Kalash traditional activities; our different province have different traditions and different customs, we should show these cultures in our dramas to tell our young generation about own traditions.


If we talk about Indian movies they are also promoting loyalty toward India and show hatred against Muslims and Pakistan, in India movies whenever they show some ethnic groups or some terrorist organization they always give them name of Muslims, and Islam. In their movies they show Muslim as extremists. While in India there are so much extremist organization, but in their movies they show Pakistani as extremists. One Indian movie “My name is Khan” which give the massage that all Muslims are not terrorists, in this movie Shah Rukh Khan proclaims, “My name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist!” India ban on that movie, this movie also infuriated Shiv Sena, a Hindu ultranationalist group that advocates snapping all sporting and cultural ties with Pakistan. It launched a campaign against Khan, threatening to stall his film’s release until he apologized and take back his statement, which he refused to do; so burning Shah Rukh Khan’s effigy and shouting slogans like “Shah Rukh Khan, go away to Pakistan!” this show how much hatred India has for Pakistan. In many patriotic programs which they show on their patriotic days they show Pakistani soldiers as extremists, and in the end of movie always Indian soldiers won the war and Pakistani soldiers have to loose. They show their soldiers patriotic and Pakistan’s soldiers as disloyal; and also show AJK as their integral part, and promote that Pakistan force Kashmir’s public to unite with Pakistan. On other hand Pakistan instead raise this issue on international level always show moderate behavior, we should ban Indian movies in Pakistan, but Pakistani cinemas shows Indian movies. In their movies India shows anti-Pakistan feelings, in some movies they show vulgarity. Which shows bad impact on mind of our young generation, through their media India want to role in mind of our generation, our government must take steps to counter India; it must be ban on India transmission in Pakistan. India media always criticize Pakistan in form of dramas and film or in reality, like in Mumbai attacks Indian media show bad image of Pakistan in whole world, in recent meetings of foreign ministers of both countries one Indian newspaper blamed Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi for the “failure” of peace talks. They always criticize Pakistan, and Pakistani shows liberal attitude, now we have to take coercive measures, we are nuclear power and have deterrence so why we always show silence response. Through their media India trying to brain washes Pakistani society and our government is showing moderate behavior.