Pak media role in peace better than India’s
LAHORE: Pakistan and India need to revisit their visa-related policies besides creating opportunities to provide the maximum interaction among the peoples of both the sides.
Over the years, trust deficit has cost both Pakistan and India heavily and its time to focus on trade and commerce opportunities in order to strengthen economies of the two South Asian countries and to achieve peace in the region.
This was the unanimous note of a discussion held in connection with the Young Global Leaders (YGL) Conference on Indo-Pak Cooperation 2011 at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) here on Saturday.
The participants included Pakistan PeopleÃs Party Secretary General Senator Jahangir Badar, Former Federal Minister Sartaj Aziz, journalist Ahmed Rashid and human rights activist Feryal Gauhar as well as Indian parliamentarians Manish Tewari (Congress), Chandan Mitra (BJP) and Baijayant Jay Panda (Biju Janata Dal). Acclaimed Indian journalist Barkha Dutt of NDTV moderated the discussion.
The event was held under the Chatham House rules which meant that whatever was discussed should stay within the room in order to promote a free and frank exchange of views.
ìWe need to open not just our eyes but ears too,î said one of the participants. Another remarked that although some issues between Pakistan and India were unlikely to be resolved soon, there is a need to focus on the concrete developments possible on both sides of the border by focusing on and utilising trade opportunities. The demand to broaden areas of interaction between peoples of Pakistan and India was also highlighted while the mediaÃs role in this regard was termed crucial.
One of the participants was of the view that Pakistani media was playing a better and more positive role in projecting Indian image in Pakistan unlike the Indian media’s role in connection with the projection of Pakistan. A participant underlined the need for a more pragmatic approach to bridge the gap between the two neighbouring countries, saying the ongoing engagement between peoples of Pakistan and India at various levels should be taken further.
The discussion followed a day-long seminar on Friday titled ìClimate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction: Managing Risks, Creating Benefitsî under the aegis of the Young Global Leaders Conference on Indo-Pak Cooperation 2011 at LUMS.
The two-day event was supported by Aman Ki Asha, a joint initiative of the Jang Group of Newspapers and The Times of India Group, LUMS, Beaconhouse, Centre for Social Markets (CSM), Norwegian Embassy, Department for International Development (DFID) and The Third Pole.
Source: The News
Date:7/10/2011
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