The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led government will not talk with those who want to breakaway from Pakistan and create a ‘Sindhudesh’, said Federal Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan. She said this while talking to the media, after a detailed meeting with the representatives of Sindhi media, comprising chief editors of Sindhi publications and CEOs of Sindhi channels on Thursday.
“There is no importance of nationalists and people of Sindh must keep in mind that if there is no Pakistan, there will be no Sindh also,” said the minister. Awan said that what has been decided about local bodies system in Sindh was in the best interest of protecting Pakistan. “Sindh played an important role in the creation of Pakistan and will sacrifice further to defend the country.”
The information minister said that PPP leadership had her asked to go to Sindh and listen to the grievances of Sindh’s people and treat their wounds, while trying to eliminate uncertainty in the province. “No son of Sindh can imagine damaging the interest of Sindh. We love the province more than our lives. Sindhi is the only regional language having a big number of daily newspapers, periodicals, TV channels and a very strong media. Because of this people of Sindh are more conscious about their rights, culture, language and homeland,” she added
“The Federal Information Ministry will assist in the establishment of Sindhi Media House in Karachi to facilitate orientation and capacity building of journalists from rural and remote areas of the province.
“Such regional media houses have been established or are in the process of being set up in all provincial capitals for journalists and media personnel visiting cities from small towns and less developed areas.
“These regional media houses are nurseries for journalism at a national level and need to be nourished and groomed,” she said.
Replying to a question, Awan said the project in Karachi would materialise in close collaboration with the provincial Information Department.
“The government is fully conscious of its responsibilities towards the capacity building of media professionals and journalists and it is this very perspective that Information Ministry will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese government for establishing a ‘Media University’.
“Capacity building of journalists is crucial as they reflect the aspirations of the masses and need to bring across the message from masses as well as government in an efficient manner.
Awan said that due priority would be given to regional journalists in training programmes that will be initiated at the university.