Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Muhammad Ali Durrani has said the government supports freedom of expression and it fully promotes a free and independent media. Speaking in a PTV programme, he said, free and independent media was a hallmark of the government and the credit goes to President General Pervez Musharraf and his team.
He said that the human resource development for media was being given special focus as it remained neglected in the past.
In the Federal Capital, he said, a media university would start functioning by October this year and gradually its campuses would be opened in the four provincial capitals. He said efforts were being made to hire faculty from across the world.
To a question, he said the present government welcomed positive and healthy criticism, but there was a need to take account of certain politicians, who indulged in sensationalism and levelling baseless allegations.
He appreciated the media for highlighting issues of public interest, but said national interest must be kept supreme. An open and bold policy was being pursued for PTV, he added.
PTV telecast live programmes in which members of opposition express their point of views. PTV was competing with different private TV channels, he added.
The minister said, no future government could reverse the freedom given to media by the present government.
He said PTV and Radio Pakistan were projecting national and important issues. "We do not compromise on credibility of state channels," he added.
To a question, he said, spokespersons were being designated for all ministries to enhance interaction with media persons.
He said weekly briefings of all ministries would be initiated soon for media and homework had been completed in this regard.
The minister said: "We hold top level meetings on alternate days in which criticism or questions raised by media are sent to respective ministries."
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