The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned the airing of Discovery channel’s programme ‘Naked & Afraid’ in Pakistan for being “obscene” and “vulgar”. “PEMRA is continuously receiving complaints and wrath from the general public as well as the civil society on the content which is in violation of laws,” PEMRA said in a statement. The electronic media regulator said that it has prohibited airing of Discovery channel’s show under Section 27 of PEMRA Amendment Act 2007 and 2018 with immediate effect. The Section bars license-holders from “airing of any indecent, obscene or pornographic content”. ‘Naked & Afraid’ is an American reality series that airs on the Discovery Channel. Each episode chronicles the lives of two survivalists who meet for the first time and are given the task of surviving a stay in the wilderness naked for three weeks After they meet in the assigned locale, the partners must find and/or produce water, food, shelter, and clothing within the environment. It is a reality show which has produced nine seasons so far with 85 episodes. It was first aired in 2013 and is a 45-minute show programme. PEMRA is an independent and constitutionally established federal institution responsible for regulating and issuing channel licenses for establishment of the mass media culture, print and electronic media. Codified under the Article 19: Chapter I of the Constitution of Pakistan, it has jurisdiction to impose reasonable restrictions in the interest of the religion, the integrity, national security of Pakistan. Established in 2002, PEMRA’s principal objectives are to facilitate and regulate the private electronic mass-media industry and to improve the standards of information, education and entertainment. Its constitutional mandate is to enlarge the choice available to the people of Pakistan including news, current affairs, religious knowledge, art and culture as well as science and technology. Published in Daily Times, January 11th 2019.