Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that freedom of media was transformed into a reality during the three-year rule of the Pakistan People's Party. Addressing the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) Regional Convention -2011,here on Saturday, the Prime Minister said he was well aware of the role the national newspapers and magazines played to strengthen the country and the democratic system.
He also appreciated the role of the regional Press saying that regional papers with their limited resources were raising regional issues as well as playing a role for the promotion of regional talent. Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, Federal Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, federal as well as provincial legislators, APNS President Hameed Haroon and other office-bearer, including newspaper owners and journalists were present in the convention.
He said he was instructing Federal Information Minister to look into the possibility of allocating 25 percent of the advertisement quota to regional papers. The Prime Minister also asked the Information Minister to arrange workshops for the training of journalists of regional papers.
Gillani asked the media to play an effective role in creating a national consensus on the war against terrorism and extremism and also for all other challenges being faced by the Country. He said that his government had encouraged all those initiatives of the media that gave hope, courage and confidence to the people of Pakistan.
He said besides promoting a self-regulatory system for media organisations, the PPP government had made amendments to various press laws to ensure a vibrant, free and an effective media. Prime Minister said that he was proud that PPP was the only political party that had always strived for the freedom of media with the vision and approach of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto providing a basis for the freedom of expression.
The prime minister said that PPP had for long been struggling for the rights of the people, supremacy of the Constitution and democracy. Now that democracy had been revived in Pakistan, a vibrant and strong media was inevitable for strengthening and promoting the democratic values, he said.
Gilani said that his government would use all available resources to resolve problems and difficulties of journalists and the media. Prime Minister on the occasion also announced a grant of Rs 500 million for the APNS and, a plot in Islamabad for the organisation.
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