New Delhi: There is no proposal to ban telecast of Pakistan Television (PTV) in the wake of restrictions on Indian newspapers and TV channels in that country, Rajya Sabha was informed on August 7.

"There is no restriction on showing PTV nor is there any proposal to ban it despite Pakistan imposing restriction on Indian TV channels and newspapers", Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh said during the Question Hour.

On what steps New Delhi could take to pursue Pakistan to lift ban on Indian newspaper, he told Bimba Raikar of Congress "India cannot suggest what they should read".

The Minister recalled that in 1989 New Delhi had suggested to Islamabad to lift ban on import of newspapers from India "but Pakistan did not agree".

To a query whether India has banned books from Pakistan, Singh said there was no specific ban from that country though the government scrutinised in general the books allowed into the country.

"Government of India does not discriminate against Pakistan in the import of Newspapers. Import of printed material from Pakistan continues to be permitted. General restrictions on the import of seditious, inflammatory or obscene material from any foreign country apply in the case of Pakistan also", the Minister said.

In reply to another query, Singh said the government could consider any proposal for providing assistance in the field of Information Technology to Pakistan.

PTI