–PNMA to comprise editors, TV anchors, columnists, writers, intellectuals, advertising professionals
LAHORE: A new widespread and broad-based media organisation by the name of Pakistan News Media Organisation (PNMA) was formed in a meeting held at Avari Hotel Lahore on Friday. Prominent media personalities associated with newspapers, TV, radio and digital media professionals from across the country attended the meeting.
The meeting was in continuation of the decisions taken in the Pakistan Media Convention held under the auspices of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) held in Islamabad in January this year.
The personalities which attended the meeting include Zia Shahid, Mubashir Zaidi, Faisal Aziz, Rehmat Ali Razi, Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Irshad Ahmed Arif, Ayaz Khan, Ahmed Iqbal Baloch, Khalid Khokhar, Imtiaz Khan Faran, Lala Rehman, Doctor Jabbar Khattak, Amir Mahmood, Hamid Hussain Abidi, Kazim Khan, Ijaz ul Haq, Alia Shah, Adnan Malik, Yousaf Nizami, Sohail Iqbal, Khizar Hayat Watto, Agha Waqar, Waqas Tariq, Imtiaz Rohani, Bashir Ahmed Khan and other media persons and anchors.
PFUJ President Rana Azeem addressed the meeting. Khizar Watto also gave a short speech. Addressing the gathering, PNMA Organising Committee Chairman Zia Shahid said editors of Lahore and Karachi, TV anchors, columnists, a few TV channel owners and managers have also shown desired to join PNMA.
Renowned TV anchors of Islamabad namely Dr Shahid Masood, Hamid Mir, Javed Chaudhry and Sardar Khan Niazi have sent messages to join the organisation, he said.
CPNE Secretary General Dr Jabbar Khattak, in his address, said to give effective representation to the big press clubs of the country for the first time, presidents of Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar have been inducted into the organisation.
“Advertising persons have assured to extend their full cooperation to the organisation. After the completion of the membership process in three months elections of this broad-based organisation will be held. Senior vice presidents of every field will be elected on the countrywide basis. It will be the first media organization which will simultaneously consist of editors, TV anchors, digital media, columnists, article writers, intellectuals and advertisers. It will work for the prosperity and development of an effective media,” he said.
The meeting also issued a statement which says that in today’s modern and progressive era based on science and technology, media has penetrated the lives. Free, sound and vibrant media is an integral part of our society, economy and basic human rights, the attendees converged.
The statement further states that the need for an integrated, co-ordained and wide-ranging platform was being felt for all media affairs including modernisation of latest technology, innovative trends and production. Separate organisations are working in every field but there was a dearth of a forum which effectively represented the media collectively.
The statement further says that a basic principle has been established in PNMA that media persons from all the fields will have equal status. In the meeting, a thirty-five members organising committee has been established under the chairmanship of Zia Shahid.
This committee will complete the process of membership and also formulate its constitution within three months after which election of PNMA will be held. Council of Newspapers Editors will assist in running the affairs of the organisation till the holding of elections.
