Private radio, TV channels from 2001
ISLAMABAD- Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf announced that private radio and television channels in the country would go on air from the year 2001.
“I intend to allow private radio and TV channels in Pakistan to start from next year,” said General Musharraf while addressing the concluding session of the two-day The News South Asian Media Conference.
Information and Media Development Minister Javed Jabbar, President All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and Editor-in-Chief of The News-Jang Publications Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and several top media-persons from South Asia were present on the occasion. I strongly believe in freedom of press, media,” he said.
General Musharraf said media in Pakistan is as free as anywhere in the world. Free, fair and vibrant media is the theme pertinent to the times we are passing through and the region we are living in.”
He, however, said the freedom of media from the government’s point of view demands reciprocity from the media. “it needs honest, balanced and mature reporting, as giving colour and distorting the facts would lead the perception diverting from truth,” he said. He said reporting should create a perception of truth, reflecting facts and more importantly should not be biased. “Negative reporting leads to misunderstanding and sometimes causes irreparable damage.” He hailed the initiative of holding this conference involving five Saarc countries.
“I hope and I’m sure that the goodwill you will carry from here will bring the countries much closer,” he said.
Source: The News
Date:7/3/2000
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