State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sumsam Ali Bukhari has said the PML-N should make demands of the National Commission for New Provinces after joining it.
Talking to reporters after attending a seminar on growing use of social media, its impact and possibilities, organized by Hameed Nizami Press Institute of Pakistan at its auditorium here on Friday, Bukhari said the commission was formed after the adoption of PML-N’s resolution in favor of new provinces by the Punjab Assembly.
He said the PPP would welcome the PML-N whenever it gave the names of nominees for the commission and it would be discussed in the commission whether it wanted referendum or any other option for new provinces.
Bukhari said it was the right of the residents of the area to decide whether they wanted a separate province or not and the decision should be taken according to the will of the masses.
To a question about code of conduct for the media, the minister said the government wanted to make a code and it already had demanded suggestions, it was now the responsibility of the media to give suggestions in this regard. To a question about wage award for media workers, he said the government stood with the journalists.
Earlier, addressing the seminar, the state minister said use of social media needed to be corrected. He said the Pakistani society was a developing one and it should not copy the other societies, adding that the media should work within the limits of social and religious ethics.
He urged the media to encourage people to use Internet and mobile phones for knowledge. He said social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Bebo and others had disconnected children from parents and urged parents to keep an eye on the children’s activities.
The minister said the role of the social media was needed to be improved, adding that Islam had given respect to women and it did not stop them to seek knowledge, but mobile phone and media had adversely affected the honor of women, so there should be check and balance for the usage of mobile phones, Internet and social media.
Former PTI information secretary Umar Sarfraz Cheema and renowned educationist and journalist Adeeb Jawdani also addressed the seminar.
