Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday reiterating government's commitment to media freedom urged the media to focus on projecting a positive and soft image of the country. Inaugurating the third Roundtable Conference on Advertising in Pakistan organised by the Pakistan Observer.
The Prime Minister said, "a vibrant, responsible media was an important ingredient of every society and democracy." He said it was important that the media "makes Pakistanis proud of being what they are, and of their country, "We welcome criticism, as it makes us better," he said and stressed that "both sides of the equation need to be seen and any judgement should be based on facts."
He asked the media to always keep national interests supreme over personal and partisan matters and to strengthen the country. He said the country today has over 50 private television channels as compared to the one state-owned in the past.
"We are very proud of what we have done to open up the media," he added Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the media also needs to help the government in highlighting the needs of those affected by the recent floods and cyclone. He said the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) set up after the October 8 earthquake of 2005 was assisting the people affected by the recent natural calamity.