US pursuing media freedom in Pakistan: Diplomat | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

US pursuing media freedom in Pakistan: Diplomat

PESHAWAR – A one-day seminar on the freedom of information was held at Lincolns Corner Central Library University of Peshawar on Monday.

The event was held after the inauguration of the refurbished Lincoln’s Corner completed at a cost of $16,000 provided by the Consulate General of the United States of America. Vice Chancellor UoP Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rasul Jan and US Consul General Robert Reed jointly inaugurated the Corner.

Addressing on the occasion, the US Consul General said that the US government is pursuing media freedom as an important mission worldwide, especially within the partner countries.

“We discuss access to information and freedom of media with the respective governments and at times link it with various assistance programmes, he said. He added that access to government activities should be made available to the press so to build public trust,” said the US diplomat. Access and right to information is the basic human right which should be provided at all cost, said Vice Chancellor UoP Prof. Dr. Muhammad Rasul Jan in his address. He added while keeping in view the national and public interest, journalists should pursue their profession and communicate information to masses.

Dr. Jan stated that in the globalized world no country can live in isolation and they are certainly looking towards regional and partner countries like USA for boosting the quality of higher education in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. Pakistan is ranked 159 among the 194 countries of the world as regards to the access to information is concerned. He added due to the lack of direct access to government and different organizations data, reporting has been confined to a ‘he say’ and ‘she say’ Journalism. Dr. Shahjehan termed the intolerance in the society as the causative agent for the lack of access to information.

Drone strikes are quoted as counterproductive by politicians and government officials in public gatherings and media talks, said senior Journalist/ analyst Ismail Khan. However when they are in official meetings, they call it as a good tool towards eradicating terrorists because of their view that no collateral damage is done in it, he added.

This kind of a dual attitude coupled threat from an unknown enemy for the Journalists community has made reporting as the most difficult job in Khyber Pakhtukhwa and FATA. He urged the students of journalism to never become party to the news and adapt to pursuing their profession with total impartiality.

Tammy B. Palchikov, Public Affiars officer US Consulate General Peshawar, Librarian Ibrar Muhammad and good number of students were present in the seminar.

Source: The Nation


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