Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan Friday said the need for training and capacity building of media persons has increased substantially in the current age of digital media.

Speaking as chief guest at closing ceremony of "Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Experts Meeting on New Challenges in Media Training," she said that media, as fourth pillar of the state, is free to criticize the government but it should also put forward suggestions for further improvement in governance.

She said that in Pakistan, private television channels witnessed mushroom growth and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was established for regulation; however importance of self-regulation could not be overemphasized.

Firdous said that sensitization of media persons on the issues of national security and fifth generation warfare is imperative.

She said that rating system forced some news channels to indulge in fake news so there is a need to discourage this rating system.

She said that the students from mass communications should also be invited in such workshops.

Earlier, Firdous Ashiq Awan said she will address a large public meeting in Teijar-Daallwali village near Sialkot on January 5 (Sunday). This was said in a tweet where she also mentioned about inauguration of several development projects.