Another day, another case of neglect and disregard. Unfortunately, the offender in this case is the state owned network PTV.
Controversies are nothing new to PTV, but this time they did something that has upset viewers all around the country. In one of their children’s program, PTV aired a map of Pakistan that did not include Kashmir.
Here’s the incident that has frayed tempers.
So Arshad Khan and Rashid Khan are running PTV with other appointees and they cannot fix a map, showing a map which shows Kashmir is part of India, on a childrens show? Why? We are forced to pay for this channel run by incompetent buffons! pic.twitter.com/VbExSZF1Jf
— Adeel Raja (@adeelraja) June 7, 2020
Who is responsible?
This map clearly shows that Kashmir isn’t a part of Pakistan and you can find hundreds of these maps on Google. This means that the person who used this map either lacked information or didn’t even bother to check the facts.
Did you know how many times this incorrect map have found its way into Pakistani media despite the fact that Pakistani authorities have completely rejected this map over and over?
Yes, this is not the first time an incomplete map of Pakistan has been aired on television. In 2011, Nestle Nesvita made a huge blunder in its ‘Women of Strength’ campaign ad and forgot to include Kashmir in the map of Pakistan. Upon severe criticism, they had to change the map and revise the ad.
The mistake was repeated again in 2017, when Khaadi showed Kashmir as part of India in their clothes. When Pakistanis decided to boycott their products, they publicly apologized for it and removed the product from the shelves.
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Where’s the check and balance?
The point of reminding you of these incidents is that when private companies and channels do something of the sort, the public and the government is quick to condemn them as traitors. This time it was the state-owned broadcaster who did it. The government tried to overlook it as an ‘innocent mistake’.
The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shibli Faraz is yet to speak on the matter. However, to save face, PTV said that they will take ‘strict notice on the human lapse resulting in the airing of incorrect image of Pakistan map.’
“The MD PTV has said that the organization has zero tolerance for such negligence and has assured that strict action will be taken against the responsible.”
PTV management has taken strict notice on the human lapse resulting in the airing of incorrect image of Pakistan map. The MD PTV has said that the organization has zero tolerance for such negligence and has assured that strict action will be taken against the responsible.
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) June 7, 2020
Is the public buying it though? Let’s see some reactions.
How does PTV get Kashmir wrong in 2020?
Simple: PTV is staffed w lifetime employees accountable to no one & whom the courts & politicians will protect.
Most MNAs or Ministers or opposition members or members of the media orthodoxy can't or won't say this.
There's no point.
— Mosharraf Zaidi 🍁 (@mosharrafzaidi) June 7, 2020
Is that mean MD will take action against MD?
When you were airing such content where was the quality assurance department sleeping or is there any check and balance concept in PTV?— Muhammad Aslam (@aslam_siachen) June 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/tomejones13/status/1269805187440525317
Manjan nhe bhaicho yahan twitter pe. Those who are responsible; terminate them tomorrow. It's a shame for all of us as a nation. Our dumbest national TV is showing such content. Shame on PTV, Shame on @shiblifaraz
Hon'ble PM Imran Khan its request to plz take this into notice
— Ahsaan Khan (@iamAhsaanKhan) June 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/aonhussain/status/1269703592010752001
Federal Minister of Human Rights, Shireen Mazari also condemned this action by PTV and said that Shibli Faraz will surely put an end to this.
Absolutely unacceptable but this keeps happening due to sheer carelessness and lethargy – just Google a map and use it without checking. Sadly few here realise importance of maps. I am sure @shiblifaraz will not only take note but will end this way of getting things done in PTV. https://t.co/fkzkgmy5l8
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) June 7, 2020
Judging by the public reactions, it looks like PTV won’t get away with this easily.
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What do you think about this whole scenario? Let us know in the comments.
If it was a kid who created some app using google, then ptv has no control over it as google must have given the kid only this when he selected and focused on the population data for Pakistan.
Just saying.