Pakistan will strengthen its external publicity network for projecting country's soft image abroad and promoting bilateral ties, particularly in the economic sector. The country's foreign missions have already been directed for projecting national interests more effectively through media and other information channels.
This was stated by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli in an interview with APP during her stay in Beijing this week.
She said that efforts are also being made to expand and upgrade the publicity wings of the Information Ministry to portray country's image as moderate, progressive and enlightened state, adding a high-level committee has already been formed with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz as its head to monitor the publicity work.
The minister proposed that Pakistani missions should work more devotedly, arranging befitting social, cultural and business events, projecting the real image of the country and giving boost to mutually beneficial co-operative partnership.
She said the country's diplomatic missions are also required to further enhance their interaction with the international media to project the national interests. They should facilitate their visits to Pakistan for making documentaries and reports on culture, society, developmental activities and heritage, she added.
Anisa Zeb said under the dynamic leadership of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz the Pakistan's has emerged as a moderate and progress country.
Replying to a question, the minister said the government fully believes in freedom of media. The electronic media has made tremendous progress in recent years, she observed.
About 15 television channels were already operational while another 37 were in the offing, the minister said, adding the government has also decided to issue TV licences to the owners of newspapers under its cross-media policy, which is a unique example in the world.
Anisa Zeb said the government is also expanding the network of radio stations and 50 more radio stations in the remote areas would be set up, besides opening many radio stations in the private sector.