Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem Khan Saturday has said that media co-operation between friendly countries like Pakistan and China should be further strengthened to defuse the negative impacts of false, malicious and self-centered media onslaught by certain countries.
He was talking to seven-member Chinese media delegation led by Ms Shi Jiang editor in chief China's foreign trade magazine here at his office. The minister said due to government's strong belief in media freedom this sector is witnessing an amazing boom.
"There was a time that people had to depend upon one TV channel but now there are 43 in the private sector and others are in the pipeline which would swell the numbers to about 54," he added. He informed that besides print media, FM radio stations also saw an upward trend as their number increased to over 100.
The minister said government values growth of media outlets as through them the government assesses how its policies are working. The state owned Pakistan Television Corporation is also extending its network to outreach the Western counties in an effective manner, he added. Tariq informed the visiting delegation that a Media University was being set up in the federal capital with the active co-operation of Communication University, Beijing.
Referring to Pakistan-China relations the minister said that both the countries enjoy excellent rapport in different fields. The minister apprised them about the economic growth being achieved by the country and said drastic steps have put the country's performance on highest trajectory.
The country's exchange reserves have reached over $13 billion, foreign trade figure is touching $18 billion, GDP doubled, FDI reached to $6billion and per capita income stands at $846, he added. The minister informed them about the Pakistan-India relations and said that steps taken by Pakistan, made the later realise that war was no longer an option.
Various CBMs, people-to-people contacts and trade co-operation has turned the erstwhile atmosphere of bellicosity, he added. He also urged the Indian government to resolve Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people and in line with UN resolutions.
Tariq Azeem said that Pakistan was taking part in war on terrorism out of its own conviction and has suffered big casualties. He asked Afghan government to stop pointing and to extend sincere co-operation to eliminate this scourge. The minister urged the international community to seek a peaceful solution to Iran issue and said attack on that country would complicate the situation.
The minister said that the government's policies are also advancing democratic system in the country, adding that for the first time in country's history assemblies would complete their terms. The minister said Chief Justice case is a constitutional and legal issue and would be decided by the Supreme Judicial Council.
The Chinese delegation expressed the hope that their visit and interaction with media persons will boost media co-operation. The meeting was attended besides others by Additional Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Ahsan Yousuf Khan, DG PBC Ishfaq Ahmed Gondal, MD APP Fazalur Rehman Malik, Syed Fayyaz Hussain DG Internal PW, DG External PW Mansoor Suhail.