ISLAMABAD: Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Sunday said that the media can be an effective tool in bridging gaps and establishing peace and stability among the nations having tense borders.
She was addressing the opening ceremony of two-day ‘International Conference of News Agencies’ on the theme of Pakistan’s media: Opportunities and challenges, News Agencies: Emerging Professional Challenges”.
Marriyum said that Pakistan has now become a much safer country than the past. However, despite defeating terrorists, a war of perception was still going on. She hoped that the participants of the conference after watching and feeling the real Pakistan would help in dispelling some of the negative perceptions about the country.
Furthermore, the minister called for self-introspection and accountability of media outlets in order to enhance their credibility.
She said that the media in Pakistan has evolved in 70 years, reaching a level where it has become the fourth pillar of the state.
The information minister said that it is a good sign that Pakistan is completing 10 continuous years of democracy and people will be electing the representatives of their choice in the upcoming election once again.
The minister also said that back in the early 2000s, private TV channels entered the media landscape in Pakistan and now, social media is actively and widely used, especially by the youth.
She said that in last four decades, Pakistan has been dealing with challenges of terrorism and extremism but we are also fighting a perception war in the world.
“In the past 40 years, art, music and culture suffered due to the menace of terrorism and extremism,” she said.
The minister thanked the delegates from foreign countries for attending the first-ever news agencies conference being organised by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and concluded by saying that Pakistanis are a resilient nation and have overcome all challenges with fortitude.