LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has urged the journalist’s
community to play its due role to counter the challenge of terrorism and
extremism and forge national consensus.
Prime Minister said this while addressing Regional Press Convention 2011
organized by All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) in a local hotel here
Saturday. Governor Punjab, information minister Firdous Ashiq Awan, leading
journalist Majeed Nizami, Mujib ur Rehman Shami, Arif Nizami and a large number
of journalists from regional news papers attended the convention.
“I firmly believe that an independent and strong media is critical for
promotion of democratic norms and stability of democracy”, he said. It was one
among the first and foremost decisions of PPP lead government that draconian
Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance-2207 was repealed and freedom of
press was restored, he held.
“When I made some major announcement on the floor of the house after seeking
vote of confidence as prime minister, repeal of black laws related to media was
one among them”, he stated.
“During the last three years our government had encouraged every move of
print and electronic media which could serve as mean of hope, courage and
confidence for our people”, he underlined. “We endured media criticism with open
mind and we have promoted the concept of self regulation through code of
conduct”, he remarked.
Constitution of trilateral commission on wage board award, establishment of
Support Fund for the families of journalists martyred during performance of
their duties, project for establishment of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto media
university in Islamabad, payment of outstanding dues to newspapers on account of
government ads, generous financial aid to press clubs were the major
achievements of the present government, he observed.
“It is my firm perception that regional papers with their limited resources
are playing vital role for promotion of regional talent besides highlighting
regional issues and problems”, he maintained. “I know as well that major share
of government aids and private business go to papers with largest circulation
and regional papers remain deprived of their due share too”, he added.
“I direct information ministry to look into the case of allocation of 25
percent quota of ads for regional papers sympathetically and if any weakness
lies in its implementation then such a workable procedure be adopted by taking
all stake holders into confidence that provision of their due share to regional
papers could be ensured, he said.
He held out assurance that government would mobilize all its possible
resources to address the problems facing the journalists. Online
