Muhammad Khan is an integral member of our team. Although not 'literate' in the conventional sense of the word or 'educated' by the standards of the privileged few, he has the brilliance and motivation to handle perhaps the most radical section of our magazine: 'Opinions of the Oppressed'.
“The dish is not creating a good impact on the innocent minds of children. They should show more cultural and informational programs so that children can learn something from them. Religious programs should be prepared keeping in mind the demands of the modern age to help children understand religion better.”
Tosia Sardar Ali - school teacher
“I think the impact depends on the type of programs shown on TV. If good programs were shown, they would create a good impact and vice versa. I think TV programs should allow children to know about their religion, worldly education and moral training.”
Saeed Rehman - tandoor owner
“As children cannot go out much, I think TV provides them a lot of awareness and, therefore, creates a good impact. I think such programmes should be shown through which people not only get information and education at home but are also able to distinguish between good and bad.”
Ayoob Khan - student
“I think TV creates both good and bad impacts on children. We should have programs that manifest the fact that we are a progressive Muslim nation. They should also be congruent to the 21st century so that they help us progress like other progressive nations.”
Mir Mohammed - fruit seller
“Due to the influence of TV, children do not go for prayers and argue that they cannot miss a drama at that time. Dish is not creating a good impact because inappropriate movies and programs are shown on the channels.”
Liaquat Ali Khan - driver
“TV is good as well as bad for children. It is good because informative programs help them to add on to their existing information. It is bad because through dish children are becoming careless; instead of paying attention to education, they tend to pursue things like infatuation/love affairs at a young age.”
Sher Khan - gatekeeper
“I think TV is good as well as bad for children. PTV telecasts good programs for children while cable spoils them. They do not pay attention to eating, drinking or education.”
Ghalib Gul - driver
“I used to have a TV at my house but I had to remove it because I felt it spoilt not only my children but also the environment at home. It becomes a disease for children because it not only wins their attention but also deviates them from education and their family. It nurtures vulgarity and kids tend to imitate whatever is being shown on TV. When they are asked to study or pray they argue to watch the programs first before performing other duties. I was so exasperated that I threw out the TV from my house. I also told my relatives to do the same.”
Sadiq - driver
“I don’t have a TV at home because I feel it is bad for my family. Television programs usually show Western culture which has destructive influence on my children.”
Rehmat - gatekeeper
“If you see it from my perspective, TV will make a good impact on children if more educational programs are shown. Cartoons are usually shown at a time when children return from school and have to go for tuitions so these programs create a big distraction and children refuse to go for studies. They lose interest in education and only want to watch television. If more educational programmes are shown then its OK, otherwise watching TV is not good for children.”
Nasir Khan - police gunman
“TV is good if more informative programs are shown. There should be more educational programs rather than dramas and serials that are of no benefit to children. Television programs should aim to make children more conscious about respecting their parents and adults.”
Moharam Ali - gatekeeper
“I think TV is not essential for children. But if somebody thinks it is, then they should show programs, which are suitable for children, and not those that are more adult-oriented. TV programs should be more focused on education and learning rather than love stories and songs.”
Asad Ali - salaried employee
“TV programs should be such that the whole family could watch them together. Children have a habit of imitating whatever is being shown on TV, so if more educational programs are shown, they would naturally create a good impact on children.”
Rukhsana Sheik - school teacher
“Watching too much TV is not appropriate for children because it not only affects their studies but also their vision. They have innocent minds and watching unsuitable programs may create a negative impact on them. TV is a powerful medium of expression and it can be used to create awareness about our local culture rather than that of the West. Programs about sports and physical exercise and popular historical dramas like Akhri Chatan and Muhammed Bin Qasim (telecasted in the past) should be shown.”
Rafiq Ahmed - school teacher
“Different programs create different impacts on children. Children often repeat the dialogues of popular dramas and serials. They not only call each other by the names of the drama characters but also try to imitate the way of talking of those characters. They know all the popular songs by heart. The best way to create a positive impact on children through television programs is by combining entertainment with information.”
Ahmera Khawaja - school teacher
