Pakistan's Punjab imposes lifetime ban on actors and dancers promoting obscenity in theatres

Several months ago, the Punjab government initiated an 'anti-obscenity drive' aimed at making commercial theater performances more civilized and suitable for families.

Pakistan’s Punjab government has announced imposing a lifetime ban on actors and female dancers involved in promoting "vulgarity, immorality, and indecency" in theatres.

Licenses of theatres found spreading obscenity will also be cancelled. "We have decided in principle to impose a lifetime ban on actors and dancers found involved in promoting vulgarity and obscenity during performances in theatre in Punjab province," Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari declared on Monday.

"We have also obtained undertakings from all theatre owners that they will not allow obscene or immoral performances at their theatres any more. If that happens their license will also be cancelled," she stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, no approvals would be granted for vulgarity and indecency in theaters.  "Theatres in Punjab should produce dramas that are family-friendly and attract families to watch," she said.

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Several months ago, the Punjab government initiated an 'anti-obscenity drive' aimed at making commercial theater performances more civilized and suitable for families. As part of this effort, it temporarily prohibited certain female dancers from performing in theaters, citing their acts as "vulgar and promoting obscenity."

In a bid to "eliminate obscenity" from commercial theater, the Punjab government passed amendments last year to the 150-year-old Dramatic Performances Act of 1876. The amendments shifted the administration of dramatic performances from the home department to the Information and Culture Department.