News agency starts service in Sindhi
HYDERABAD Feb 2 (APP): Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Nisar A. Memon Saturday announced to launch a nation-wide campaign for forging unity and homogeneity in the nation ahead of the forthcoming general elections.He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of Sindhi News Service of Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) held here at local hotel.
The Minister said he will begin a tour of the country from Peshawar on February 4 to bring the people of various regions of the country on same frequency of safeguarding and protecting national integrity and cohesion.
“I will visit all provinces to keep interactions with different segments of the society to ensure conducive atmosphere for holding fair and transparent elections”, he added.
He said after interaction with mediapersons and other professionals, the opinion and recommendation of the people will be made public regarding the holding of upcoming polls in a peaceful manner.
He said that caretaker government has a mission to complete the entire process of election in a peaceful manner as per schedule under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf so as to ensure the continuation of democratic process without any hindrance.
Nisar Memon said that President Pervez Musharraf was following the vision of Quaid-e-Azam to make Pakistan strong and prosperous.
Presently, Pakistan was striving hard to overcome the challenges of extremism, terrorism and social and economic injustices, he noted.
He said the government was determined to eliminate social injustice in every form from the country.
About media freedom in the country, Nisar Memon said that there was no restriction on media, as all channels had been restored. However, he called upon the media to provide coverage to all the parties and events impartially so as to avoid condition like November 3, 2007.
The Minister advised the media to play their pivotal role in foiling the international propaganda against Pakistan.
“It was national responsibility of all stake holders to play their due role to ensure the continuation of democratic process in larger interest of the country”, he observed.
He said that APP was now transformed into a national news agency from official news agency, as it has a task to raise issues of social, political and economic injustices.
“Establishment of Sindhi News Service of APP is an important step, as the message should reach out to the people in their own language,” he said.
He said that all languages of the country were the chain of federation and each regional language holds equal importance.
Nisar Memon said that Sindhi language is the language of peace and it has rich heritage and history.
He informed that two more licenses for new Sindhi channels have been issued.
The Minister urged the Sindhi tv channels to serve the people of Sindh by raising their problems without any discrimination.
He announced to restore the publication of monthly “Nain Zindagi” (new life) for which he formed a committee comprising eminent scholars, Ghulam Rabbani Agro, Abdul Hameed Sindhi and representatives of APP, Hyderabad, Radio and PID.
Managing Director APP Rai Riaz Hussain said that it was a matter of pride for APP to launch its Sindhi News Service in Hyderabad, the hub of Sindhi press.
He said that Sindhi Service of APP was launched in April 2002 on the directives of then Federal Minister for Information Nisar A. Memon and it was pleasant coincidence that he inaugurated the service in his capacity as caretaker Federal Minister for Information.
He said that Sindhi Service was launched with only three staffers, but now it has strong team of 20 staffers.
The MD said that APP Hyderabad office is among the strongest and well-managed regional offices.
He said that APP being national news agency provides coverage to all parties including opposition in an impartial manner.
At present around 611 employees on regular basis and 111 on contract basis were serving in APP and the agency’s published news items in national newspapers are four times more than other news agencies.
APP has credibility and accuracy and the agency’s news items never face any contradiction, the MD said.
He said that on clear instruction of Nisar A. Memon, appropriate coverage was being given to all the parties without any discrimination.
He said that APP gives coverage to the events while keeping in view the national interest.
Besides providing information, APP has embarked on a mission to educate the masses regarding promotion of positive attitude and discouraging negative tendencies, which promote terrorism and extremism.
Speaking of expansion in the scope of services of APP, he said that besides Sindhi News Service, the agency has launched Pushto, Balochi and Arabic Services.
He said that the agency has also started a video service, which provides clear footage of different events and happenings to all the television channels of the country and also abroad. Since APP footage does not carry the log of agency the television channels are at liberty to present the same with their own logos. He assured to resolve the problems being faced by the staff of APP, Hyderabad station.
Speaking as honorary guest, former vice-chancellor University of Sindh (SU) and well known scholar Ghulam Rabbani Agro felicitated the people of Sindh and APP administration on behalf of Sindhi scholars, poets and writers over the inauguration of Sindhi News Service.
He said that Nisar A. Memon has played a crucial role in establishing APP Sindhi Service. He said that establishment of APP Sindhi Service was imperative, as more than dozen daily newspapers in Sindhi are published from various cities of the province.
Former vice- chancellor, Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU), Khairpur Abdul Hameed Sindhi, who presided over the ceremony said that APP is the only organization in the country which set established values of journalism.
He appreciated the establishment of Sindhi News Service and termed it an important step for promotion of Sindhi language.
He drew the attention of government’s concerned ministry to make appropriate measures for restoring the glory and status of other cultural and literary institutions of Sindh.
APP, he said, is the institution of people and we all will play due role for its further improvement.
Station Manager, APP Hyderabad outlined the problems being faced by the members of the staff working at the station.
Incharge, APP Sindhi Service Abdullah Veesar presented a vote of thanks.
Source: The Nation
Date:2/2/2008
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