Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani Saturday said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led government had given real freedom to media, adding that the role national and regional print media was vital to strengthen democracy in the country. Addressing the APNS Regional Press Convention 2011 at a local hotel, Gilani hoped that media would play an effective role in creating national consensus over the ongoing fight against extremism and other challenges faced by Pakistan. “I believe the nation and press rise and fall together,” he remarked.
He said the regional newspapers with their limited resources were raising local issues in an effective manner. Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, Federal Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, parliamentarians, APNS President Hameed Haroon, newspaper owners and veteran journalists were present on the occasion. Gilani said he had instructed Firdous to look into matter of allocation of 25 per cent advertisement quota to the regional papers passionately.
He said besides promoting a self-regulation system for media organisations, the government had made amendments to various press laws to ensure a vibrant, free and an effective media. The prime minister promised to use all available resources to resolve the problems issues related to journalists and media. He gave the instructions to issue a grant of Rs 50 million, for construction of the APNS House.
