Media accused of discouraging investors

Minister for Labour and Manpower Khursheed Shah on Tuesday held media solely responsible for the country's deteriorating economy, saying that some committed investors were hesitant because of dismal portrayal of the country's affairs by media. The minister said: "the coverage of violent incidents particularly the Karachi mayhem forced the committed investors to flee the country."
Addressing the meeting of National Assembly's Standing Committee on Labour and Manpower that met with Dr Ghulam Haider Samejo in the chair, the minister said "this display of recklessness" was due to a 'ratings race' among media houses. Taking strong exception to the media coverage which he termed reckless, Shah said that a project worth Rs 13 billion in the power sector had been abandoned as the country's affairs were being put in a bad light by media.
Another member yearned for a collective stance from political parties against media, referring to a recently withdrawn bill against media in the Punjab Assembly. "Political parties should not have backed out," he added. According to Shah the only person who is facing media quite courageously is President Asif Ali Zardari. Some of the media organisations are tax evaders, he added.
Some other members also criticised media and anchorpersons, holding them responsible for drawing battle lines between politicians and journalists. During the meeting Overseas Employment Corporation, an organisation of the Ministry of Labour and Manpower, briefed the committee on working of Overseas Employment Corporation. The committee observed that the process of sending the manpower to South Korea is very lengthy and time consuming. Similarly the committee expressed its reservations over sending trained doctors to foreign countries. They said that only fresh doctors should be sent abroad.
Shah informed the committee that Foreign Labour Welfare Attaches would be appointed in 19 countries where foreign Mission/Community Welfare Attaches are already working. He said in this regard a formal request has been sent to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. The committee was informed that since its incorporation, the corporation has so far sent 129,818 Pakistanis for employment to 53 countries. The average annual export of manpower has been about 5000 workers.