The present democratic government is staunch supporter of freedom of media, therefore, it scrapped the draconian laws introduced in the past to stifle the freedom of media. Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said this during a presentation by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting here on Monday, which was attended by Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Secretary Information and heads of attached departments of the Ministry.
Prime Minister said that the freedom of media and democracy were inseparable from each other and the government would ensure the freedom of press and promote the cause of free discussion and debate in the country, critical for the evolution of a pluralistic society. He also directed to give enhanced space on state owned media to all political parties including the opposition both in its news and current affairs programmes.
The Prime Minister directed that the shortage of DSNGs be overcome on emergent basis because in this competitive world of media it was absolutely important to sufficiently equip the State TV channel with the latest technology to ensure live coverage of important events taking place across the country.
He directed the Ministry to take immediate steps for making the Ministry's Media University functional to impart advanced training to the working journalists. The Prime Minister said that the National Finance Award, constitutional amendments, identity to KPK, introduction of reforms in FATA, and turning Pakistan into a wheat exporting country from wheat importing country etc were the landmark achievements of the present coalition government, which would undoubtedly have far reaching effects to strengthen the federation as well as national economy.
He directed Pemra to exercise its authority given by the law against those channels engaged in broadcasting indecent and unauthorised material. Earlier, the Minister for Information while giving presentation said that there was a marked improvement in the current affairs and news programmes of PTV, but added that there still was an ample space for improvement and his Ministry was pro-actively engaged to set the trend of dissemination of news with responsibility.-PR
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