ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal Thursday said the alternative media tools should be used for promoting progressive national agenda instead of using it for spreading negative ideas among the people.
He was addressing the concluding session of a two-day International Conference on `Alternative Media in Pakistan-Opportunities and Challenges' organized by Heinrich Boell Stiftung (HBS) and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here.
Ahsan Iqbal said the age of internet has brought about a change in the world of media. He said the media is now transforming from conventional media to more interactive and dynamic media which has made common citizens more powerful as they can give their own point of views instantly without any pressure.
He said the alternative media should play its role in engaging the citizens in development issues like education, health etc.
The Minister said the government is committed to build electronic media platform.
In this regard, he said the government is working hard to carry out 3-G technology licensing as early as possible which will help more than 70 percent people of the country who have access to cellular mobile phones to participate in the alternative social media with more effective way.
Ahsan Iqbal also called upon the civil society to play its role of regulators on the conventional electronic and print media and force them to highlight positive news more often than the negative news.
Earlier the speakers in their presentations recommended that the social media and social networking forums are effective means through which we can try to correct the faulty conspiracy theorist mindset of people who believe the West and all international monetary organizations are out to destroy our country Pakistan.
Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, an analyst described how he uses simple tools to record at least two documentaries, videos per week containing positive messages and enlightening information for the public
The government and other public and private institutions should facilitate, encourage, and provide trainings to educationists and members of the academia in how to record simple homemade videos, documentaries containing positive messages that dispel negative notions of conspiracy theories, paranoia and delusion, and how to effectively upload them on social networking forums like Facebook and Twitter with an aim to achieve widespread reach and accessibility", he added.
The government should take steps to eliminate censorship and it should promote freedom of expression and open up alternative avenues of positive and constructive argument and debate on the Internet.
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