Media role to promote Pakistan soft image urged | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Media role to promote Pakistan soft image urged

By MUSTHAQ MUGHAL

AKORA KHATTAK: Media persons need to be careful during live coverage of the issues of sensitive nature like bomb lasts, suicide attacks and other sort of terrorism incidents.

This was stated by speakers during the media workshop organised by the Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC), here on Friday. “All the television channels have signed a code of conduct regarding live coverage and it should be fulfilled accordingly,” said a senior electronic media person Mohsin Raza while speaking on the occasion.

The Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) organised ‘Media Persons’ Capacity Building Workshop’. The motive behind the workshop was to find out ways through which media could play a positive role at this time when Pakistan was victim of terrorism and international conspiracies.

Responsible media can protect the national interest by removing misconceptions of the world community regarding Pakistan.

The trainer, Mohsin Raza, said that Media persons needed to enhance their skill and expertise to meet the international standards. To achieve this all they have to go a long way, he added.

Earlier, Syed Khurrum Shah, Manager External Communication thanked the media persons for paying visit to the PTC and for participating in the workshop.

During the workshop, Media consultant Shahzad Lodhi said “ The PTC is committed to keep aiding media over its business expansion, procedures and activities. PTC do arrange meting with media persons every year”.

While talking to TheNation, the External Communication Manager Hina Ahmed said, “ The PTC is grateful to media men for visiting our field offices. We have an open policy and we are following all the required international standards. We keep encouraging media men so that they can play their role to protect the national interest.”

Talking to TheNation Manager Corporate Regularity and administrative Affairs

Muhammad Anees said, “We have 1300 employees including contract employees, who are working at this filed office. We have excellent Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regarding employees’ welfare and development.” He further added, “Employees Union is also very active in this office. We are following the International Standard Organisation (ISO) rules strictly. We have zero tolerance on total quality management (TQM) and over employees welfare.”

“As a policy matter, we discourage child labour and strictly published instructions, as smoking is harmful to the under-aged boys, he further maintained.

During the visit it was observed that the labours were working in a challenging environment. To make the labours safe from plant noise air plug were placed by the PTC. However, No mask was given to the labours working at primary and secondary procession plants to control the nicotine polluted air. It may be relevant to mention that tobacco nicotine polluted air is harmful for the labours working at primary and secondary processing plants.

The PTC has been operating in Pakistan since 1947. Its contribution in term of foreign investment has been playing a vital role in the economy. British American Tabacco, the parent company of PTC, has been running the business for over 100 years.

The PTC pays Rs 30 million in excise duties and taxes to the Government of Pakistan and is also playing very vital role by providing employment to the people of Pakistan.
Source: The Nation
Date:3/27/2010