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Resolution to Ban Doraemon Anime Series Submitted in Pakistan

Members of the Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party submitted a resolution to Pakistan's Punjab Assembly on Wednesday, proposing a ban on dubbing the Japanese anime Doraemon into Hindi. PTI member Malik Taimoor Masood explained that the party believes cable networks are having a "negative impact" on Pakistani children by airing Doraemon.

The resolution singled out Doraemon, but also asked the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to ban 24-hour cartoon channels in general, claiming that these channels adversely affect the "educational and physical well-being of children," and that children will watch these channels without adult supervision.

The resolution was passed and will be a discussion topic at the next Punjab Assembly session.

In India, Ashish Chaturvedi, whistleblower of country's Vyapam education scam, also recently criticized the Hindi- and English-dubbed versions of Doraemon and another anime, Crayon Shin-chan, for having an adverse impact on children. Chaturvedi served legal notice on various involved parties, including Disney India and the Indian broadcasting foundation, and intends to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

"When I saw a young boy imitating 'Nobita Nobi' [the protagonist of Doraemon] I clapped for him," Chaturvedi said. "But, I was completely shocked when his parents said that he was so addicted to Doraemon and they have not been able to get him out of 'Nobita' he was aping. He keeps asking for gadgets or hoping for a miracle to happen, just like Nobita."

The manga creator duo Fujiko Fujio (Hiroshi Fujimoto and Motoo Abiko) created Doraemon in 1969, and the Doraemon television anime is frequently ranked among the top ten most-viewed anime in Japan. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed the title character as its first "anime ambassador" to promote Japanese culture abroad in 2008.

In the story, the robotic cat was sent by a boy in the future to the present day to help the boy's hapless grandfather, Nobita. Doraemon, Nobita, and other children deal with everyday childhood issues, solve (and cause) problems with the gadgets in Doraemon's fourth-dimensional pocket, and embark on escapades through time and space.

Sources: News Pakistan, Business Standard, The Times of India