Prime Minister urges media to play more ‘responsible role’ | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Prime Minister urges media to play more ‘responsible role’

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Tuesday hoped that in the forthcoming general election, the media would play a constructive role in pin-pointing the shortcomings and giving a positive direction to national politics.

He also stressed the need for media’s “more responsible role” in the country and said the approach should be coherent with the national interest.

Talking to a delegation of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), led by its President Sarmad Ali here, the premier said the media must fulfil the ingredients of research, thorough investigation and factual reporting. He urged upon the national media to present soft and peace-loving image of Pakistan so as to counter the negative propaganda at the international level.

He said foreign media eagerly highlighted the local news reports that carried content against Pakistan. “Whatever pen-picture you draw about your country, it would have a far-reaching impact,” he added. He said the criticism by the media was significant and could be positively taken as a guideline.

He said written words are more powerful than verbal ones and added that a published article, news and editorial could be quoted as reference.The prime minister said the next few months were very important as a democratic and civilian parliament was nearing completion of its tenure for the first time in the country’s history.

He said continuity of democracy was vital for speedy progression.He lauded the long struggle of the media in attaining its position as a powerful organ of the State. He said it was rightly being called as a fourth pillar of the state due to its significance.

He said the Pakistani culture is rooted in the traditions of safeguarding human rights, protecting the rights of women and caring for each other. He called upon the media to highlight such rich traditions.

He said untoward incidents happen in all societies and mentioned the recent shooting at a school in the United States, in which several children were killed. He said their local media reported the happening with totally different approach.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira and State Minister for Information Samsam Ali Bukhari.

The delegation comprised APNS Senior Vice President Mehtab Khan, Secretary General Masood Hamid, Joint Secretary Imtinan Shahid, Finance Secretary Javed Mehr Shamsi and members of the Executive Council of the APNS.

Meanwhile, in a separate meeting, talking to the ANPS delegation, the information minister said the government was doing its best to facilitate the media industry in its growth. Kaira said the Pakistan People’s Party government believed that the media independence and strengthening of democracy go hand in hand.The minister proposed that a committee should be formed to review advertisement policy.


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