Saarc media centre starts operation
ISLAMABAD: The media center set up for the 12th SAARC Summit went operational on Thursday with the first briefing by the Secretary Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar.
The centre made to cater for over 500 newsmen from the seven countries has been set up at the Holiday Inn Hotel. Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Secretary Information Anwar Mehmood, Principal Information Officer Ashfaq Gondal went to the centre to see the facilities provided for the newsmen.
Information Minister directed that excellent arrangements should be made so as to ensure that the news could be dispatched to their respective offices without any delay. He also asked to make necessary changes to accommodate more newsmen and provision of equipment so that the journalists using their laptop computers can be connected to the network.
Daily press briefings by the Foreign Office spokesman have been arranged to provide an update into the progress of meetings. FO Spokesman Masood Khan will be the spokesperson for the Summit.
The centre has been provided 35 computers with the round the clock high speed Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connectivity. The National Telecommunication Corporation (NTCI) has set up ten telephone lines with International connectivity and ten fax machines.
The NTC is providing free Internet e-mail and printing facilities, however the users will be charged according to the normal tariffs for international calls and fax facility.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation has also set up a booth to provide ISD and nationwide dialing facility through PTCL pay cards.
The Indian media has set up a separate media centre at the fourth floor and they too have been provided ten international telephone lines and ten tax lines, besides a DSL connectivity of 1 MB capacity.
The Ministry of Information is coordinating all arrangements for the regional, international and local media and special briefings will be arranged. Pakistan Television has the exclusive rights to cover all the SAARC related events. It will provide linking facility for the local and international media.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:1/2/2004
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