LAHORE: International Journalism Conference 2017 kicked off at a local hotel here on Saturday.
Punjab government’s information department, Foundation for Promotion of Academic Collaboration (FPAC) and German Press Foundation (DPV) were joint partners of the event.
Punjab government Spokesman Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, representing Punjab chief minister inaugurated the opening session. The theme of the conference was ‘Media and Society, Future and Beyond’. Senior journalists from Germany, Afghanistan, Iran, Spain, India, USA, Malta and Denmark participated as delegations.
On the eve of the opening session, the chief guest read a message from Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif who welcomed the participants and delegations of the conference and emphasised the universities of Pakistan to learn the experience and views shared by acclaimed foreign journalists. “Media from Pakistan and abroad will seek solutions to problems faced by Pakistan and other countries,” he hoped.
In his address, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan applauded the bravery of Pakistani journalists who take risk of life while covering incidents of terrorism. He pointed out that the number of events of terrorism had decreased significantly by initiatives taken by the government.
He also said that the nation will never bow down before terrorism. Commending the role of electronic media in particular, he said that by adopting the principle of balanced reporting and impartiality, the electronic media can form public opinion in a better manner.
He also assured the journalist community that “we are with you”.