Women in Pakistan are a happy lot these days, after cable operators began telecasting the recorded episodes of Indian TV soap-operas, including Ekta Kapoor's Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, defying the ban (in Pakistan) on Indian TV serials.

But, the move has left their spouses groaning, since the women are now glued to their TV sets for over three hours.

The programmes are being shown in different areas in Pakistan between 2000 hours IST and 2300 hours IST and they are popular both among working women and housewives, reported the Daily Times.

TV serials like Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, Sas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kasauti Zindagi ki, Kahin to Hoga, Kum Kum and K-Street Pali Hill are some of the more popular serials among the Pakistani women.

It is for these teleserials that Pakistani women complete their housework at the earliest so that they can catch up on all the saas-bahu conspiracies, complained one husband who said that he doesn't get food on time because all the women at his home are glued to TV sets.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had banned a few Indian channels, including Star Plus, because they were on the list of channels banned by the Pakistan government.

However, industry insiders contended that the government was worried that advertisers were shifting their focus towards these channels, automatically hurting their (the government's) revenue interests.

Ironically, the TV serials have made the lives of menfolk miserable.

"The ban was a good thing. At least my mother would serve me food when I reached home from work and I wouldn't have to wait for two hours before she got free from these soap operas. But now they are back and I am cursing my cable service," Daily Times quoted one Dr Kashif as saying.

But, the womenfolk have their own arguments justifying their position.

"We watch TV after completing our housework. When the government banned these programmes, my mother-in-law and I used to spend our time talking and discussing different things. But now we spend most of our evenings watching teleserials and then discussing these programmes," a housewife said.