"With the strengthening of economy we are trying our best to trickle down its benefits at the grass-roots level," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at the launching ceremony of daily 'Ausaf' on Friday.
The function was attended by Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and Federal Information Minister Rashid Ahmad, Zahur Akhtar, Arshad Lodhi, Ikram Ullah, Sardar Attiq, Tikka Khan and others.
The Prime Minister said that as the benefits accrued from expansion in economy, sometimes pressure also occurred on prices, which the government was trying to settle.
Terming independent and truthful journalism as mandatory for democratic process he said that the government had made concrete endeavours for its promotion of in the country.
The Prime Minister said that media had played a pivotal role in making awareness of agony of earthquake in the country. He said that media had also played an appreciable role in strengthening the political system, and stabilising the economy and structural reforms.
In the context of the recent successful cruise missile launch, the PM said that the government would provide all available funds for credible deterrence capability of the country.
The Prime Minister unequivocally made it clear that the nation stood for peace, and all its defence programs were defensive in nature and posed no harm for any quarter.
Shaukat said that the main goal of the foreign policy was to promote honour and image of the country. About gas line projects he said that steps would be taken in the best interests of the nation. Terming Pakistan as citadel of religion he said that with its strengthening Islam would get fortified.
Talking about Balochistan, the Prime Minister said that only preventive measures, to enforce the writ of the government, had been taken there. He said the government fully believed in peaceful application of power, but if harm to system by any quarter comes, appropriate measures would be taken.
Federal Information Minister Sheikh Rashid said that the present government had kept the honour of pen at the highest pedestal. He said that with strong opposition in two provinces, if there were Pakistan People's Party's at the Centre, it would have long ago toppled opposition's rule in NWFP.
The Minister said that with the electronic channels getting strong fast, it would provide immense job opportunities for new comers in media profession. On the occasion, he apprised about the launching of two new channels. Stating that 1200 newspapers were being published in the country, he said that the government, being fair in approach, had not stopped advertisements of any paper as pressure tactic.
Talking of fair dealing with media, he said that the government never sent gangsters in any newspaper establishment, as others did in the past.
Mehtab Khan, Founder and Chief Editor of 'Ausaf', welcoming the audience said that in his launching of the paper, he always felt in mind that the paper should be of highest quality that could be read by all family members without a speck of hesitation.
He said that 'Ausaf', while striving for promotion of a healthier, neat and clean society, was fully poised to play its role in safeguarding the image and ideological frontiers of the country.
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