16th APNS awards: no one can curb freedom of press: minister
KARACHI- Federal Information and Media Development Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has declared that no one can curb the freedom of the press in Pakistan.
He said this, while delivering presidential address at the 16th Awards ceremony of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) at the Mohatta Hindu Gymkhana here on March 18, 2003.
The minister said no one could muzzle the press in Pakistan regardless of being howsoever big or strong.
He said that he was happy that the APNS existed on sound foundations and settles its matters amicably and in spirit of reconciliation.
He pointed out that in Pakistan the journalistic institutions were the only ones that were getting stronger and vigorous than before and expressing themselves in a bold manner.
The minister said the credit for this also went to those personalities who were maintaining the strength of the saplings planted by their parents or elders well.
He said these institutions were growing and Inshaallah would grow further.
Sheikh Rashid said that he was happy and he could say with certainty that no one could curb the freedom of the press in Pakistan.
On behalf of Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, he announced Rs 25,000 each for all those who won the APNS award on Tuesday.
For the artists who performed at the APNS awards ceremony, he announced Rs 200,000 on behalf of the Information and Media Development Ministry.
Federal Information and Media Development Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood said that the government was fully alive to the problems being faced by regional press, and every effort has been made for their resolution.
The secretary said that the regional press should get its due rights. He also pointed out that the focus of Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali “is on the development of those areas in the country” that are less developed.
He said that there has been an increase in the number of newspapers but the budgetary allocations for advertisements of the government departments have not been enhanced accordingly.
He said that there was need that the overall budget of every department for advertisement should also be increased.
Anwar said that as the proposals for budget for the fiscal year 2003-04 were in the process of being finalised, the Information and Media Development Ministry would take up the matter with the Finance Ministry, as well as with Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance Shaukat Aziz, so that the allocations of government departments under the head of advertisement should be enhanced.
The secretary assured the participants that Sheikh Rashid and he himself would take up the matter with the prime minister with regard to enhancement in the budget in this respect.
Referring to the demand of the convenor of the APNS Committee for Regional Press, Mumtaz Tahir, with regard to exemption of general sales tax (GST) and other duties and taxes for the regional and local press on the import of newsprint till the commencement of the production of the newsprint in the country, Anwar said that the present policy was to do away with the exemptions. In such a situation, he added, it would be difficult to enhance the list for exemptions.
However, he said, it might be possible to work with the Finance Ministry and the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) on a package of incentives and to see if there could be reduction in the rate of duties and taxes.
He asked the office-bearers of the APNS Committee for Regional Press to come up with comprehensive proposals in a week’s time so that the same could be taken up with the finance minister and the CBR.
He was of the view that newspapers were an industry and should get the required incentives.
About the demand that as there has been no rapid increase in the circulation of the regional and the local newspapers, the audit of these publications should be once in two years’ time rather than on annual basis, the information secretary said that such a suggestion was justifiable.
However, he pointed out that the list of publications in this connection should come through the APNS Committee on Regional Press.
Anwar said that at the behest of Federal Information Minister Rashid Ahmed, the APP Urdu service has been initiated in a better way with the induction of some staff.
He said the number of news items released daily through APP Urdu service has also increased manifold. He said the performance of Urdu service was being monitored on daily basis.
In his address, Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Maher emphasised exigency of establishing “better co-ordination and mutual trust” between the press and the government.
The present democratic government fully believed in the freedom of press and appreciated its key role. In emerging scenario, democratic-oriented society and freedom of press were co- related, he said, while speaking at the annual awards ceremony of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) in Karachi.
He spoke of what he called ‘unprecedented’ freedom of the press given by the government during the last few years, and assured it would endeavour not only in safeguarding this, but would confirm it in accordance with the modern day requirements.
He hoped that the APNS was well conscious about negative fallout of ‘irresponsible’ freedom of the press, and would evolve self-accountability process.
The Press Council of Pakistan in consultation with newsmen would help in realising this goal, he added.
The chief minister said the policy on advertising policy was altered in view of the financial constraints of the provincial government.
He assured the government was keen to safeguard the interests of the newspapers, including Sindhi, Urdu, Gujrati and English. The Sindh Cabinet in its last meeting, made changes in advertising policy for 2000 and it would be implemented soon.
On the payment of advertisements dues to the newspapers, he said, out of Rs 140 million, so far, the provincial government has cleared backlog of Rs 60 million, while the rest would also be cleared under agreed formula.
Maher said that district and provincial offices of Sindh Information Department would soon be provided e-mail, fax and other facilities.
“Despite difference of opinion with the press, no one would be allowed to resort to violence against them as they play pivotal role in developing perception of the society on vital issues. The government will provide protection to the newspapers and its employees as they are voice of the people.”
He said the government has resolved Hawkesbay housing scheme in Karachi for journalists, and provided funds.
APNS President Hameed Haroon said that the society was a national body committed to the support of Article 19 of the Constitution. Today, it entered its 50th anniversary of founding.
“For the last 50 years the representatives of the press have debated on national affairs, elected their leadership annually through a democratic method and peacefully struggled for the removal of barriers to the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press,” he added.
He said time has come to make relationships between the newspaper industry, the press and provinces a model.
“Information is a subject concurrent to both federal and provincial governments. Article 19 is as pivotal a factor in APNS-provinces relationship, as it is APNS relationship with the federation.”
Pointing at the Sindh government’s advertising media policy which stated that an advertisement would be released to a minimum of three publications in Sindh, he said, when one looked at the number of major newspapers headquartered and publishing from the Sindh province, the imposition of a minimum was highly inimical to the development of a free and responsible press.
Drawing attention of the Sindh chief minister towards long outstanding dues owned by the provincial government to the press, both national and regional, he said, for the last three years the problem of dues worth Rs 140 million by the Sindh government to the APNS member publications continued and many of these dues have not been paid since 1990.
Earlier, in his address, the convenor of the APNS Committee for Regional Press, Mumtaz Tahir, said that it augured well that Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had once again become the information and media development minister. He said the minister was keenly interested in the development and promotion of print media.
Tahir said that last time Sheikh Rashid had got a special package for the development of newspapers, adding that this mission should now be completed.
He said that on the pattern of cottage industry a special package be prepared for newspapers.
APNS Secretary General Kazi Asad Abid said that a unified information and media policy should be implemented. He thanked Anwar Mahmood for giving a patient hearing and for undertaking efforts to resolve the problems being faced by the newspapers.
APNS Senior Vice President Zia Shahid also praised the information secretary and said that he always did his best for the resolution of the problems of newspapers.
Mustafa Sadiq, a senior member of APNS, also expressed his views on the occasion.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:3/19/2003
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