The Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) is expanding its network at local and international levels by establishing linkages with various organisations for collaboration and experience sharing.
According to a press statement issued on Friday, PCP Chairman Raja Shafqat Abbasi said the council was in the process of signing MoUs (memorandums of understanding) with different institutions of the country to establish professional linkages with them.
He said the Press Council was also in touch with the Press Council of SAARC, Commonwealth countries and World Association of Press Councils to establish a working collaboration with them and learn from their experiences.
He said an advisory board would be constituted involving major universities of the country for capacity building and research activities.
Established in 2002, the council remained a non-functional entity; however, he said it had now been reactivated purely as an independent organisation with core objective of maintaining media freedom.
Abbasi said the council would not only address the complaints received from the public against media it had also been mandated to resolve issues confronting the media men.
He said the complainant would first lodge a complaint with the organisation concerned and in case of failure to resolve the issue within fortnight, the council would take up the issue.
Moreover, the council head said an inquiry commission would also be formed to be headed by a retired judge of the high court or equally qualified person. Abbasi said the council had also formed two inquiry committees to look into relevant issues and complaints.
