Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Saturday the PPP will continue to pursue politics of reconciliation while taking along all political parties on important national issues. She said starting dialogue with Pakistan Muslim League (Q) is also part of such efforts. She said PPP always took decision in supreme national interest of the country rather than political interest, she said talking at Gujrat press club.
She lauded the role played by the Gujrat journalists community in national politics. She termed media and politics as two wheels of a vehicle and said both together can bring improvement in the country. The minister urged the media to expose corruption. About the information ministry, she said it is facing many challenges. She said soon after taking charge of this important ministry she has introduced reforms in it. Firdous Ashiq Awan said steps have been taken in the ministry, enabling it to meet present day requirements. She further said steps have been taken to regulate Pemra where police and custom personnel were performing duties. Media related people will be appointed in Pemra for capacity building, she added.
The minister said it is time for public and private media partnership to steer the country on the path of development and prosperity. She said the government wanted to strengthen the media so it can fight the case of Pakistan. She urged media to share solution of the problems. She said media should be a ray of hope for the people and not create disappointment among them. The minister also announced grant of Rs 0.5 million for Gujrat press club.
She thanked Gujrat press club for inviting her. The minister also inaugurated a road built at a cost of Rs 54 million. On the occasion she said PPP government will initiate more development projects for the people's welfare. The government believes in serving the people that is why it has initiated many mega development projects, she said. Firdous Ashiq Awan also visited a industrial exhibition at Zahoor Elahi Stadium, where office-bearers of Gujrat chamber accorded her warm welcome.