KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has directed all banks to stop processing subscription payments for Indian Streaming Video on Demand platforms (SVOD).
In a recent notification to the presidents and CEOs of all banks, electronic money institutions (EMIs), Payment System Operators (PSOs), and payment service providers (PSPs), the central bank has ordered to stop processing different mode of payments, including credit cards for subscribing to Indian content in Pakistan, specifically mentioning Zee5.
The SBP made this decision after receiving a letter from the Cabinet Division in order to curb or ban the viewership of ‘Indian content’ in Pakistan. The banks, EMIs, PSOs, and PSPs are expected to comply with the decision by November 13.
Profit asked the SBP spokesperson if the banning of Zee5 has to do with the show, Churrails, to which the spokesman asked to refer to the bank’s notification.
In addition to Churails, the platform streams Jhooti Love Story, another all Pakistani cast show.
Zee5 is an Indian video on demand service launched in 2018 in India, with content in as many as 12 languages.
