Govt discourages censorship on media: Fawad

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain Wednesday said the government discourages censorship on media and did not receive any complaint in this regard.

Talking to a news channel, he said that the Senate Committee for Human Rights had given two days to complain about any censorship in media content but received no complaint there off.

He said that the entertainment and sports industry should flourish as it shows stability in the country instead of news channels which shows instability. He said constructive criticism should be made on media but there was a difference between sensationalism and criticism.

Flourishing entertainment does not mean to promote westernization but to promote the local culture as Pakistan was rich in culture, he mentioned. Punjab, having 110 million population was a big market for Punjabi films but unfortunately, not a single Punjabi film was produced during last 20 years.

The minister said all the political parties should have consensus over all the national issues including education, health, water, cleanliness and environment, hoping that the provincial governments would support the new education policy of the federal government. He said the syllabus from primary to intermediate should be same as per the new policy of the government.

Replying to a question about the Prime Minister’s meeting with US Secretary of State, he said the meeting was held in the overall pleasant atmosphere.

He said that the government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was different from previous governments as their meetings with foreigners were held to promote their own businesses while Imran Khan has no business and he would take decisions in the national interest.

Highlighting the 10 days performance of the government, he said 1.5 million saplings were planted in one day, successful austerity drive, censorship on state media was ended the first time, the formation of 16 task forces including energy, accountability, recovery of public money stashed abroad illegally.

Replying to a question, he said that those bureaucrats who were working for the previous government would face accountability.

He said a special unit comprising off representatives of NAB, FIA, SECP, State Bank and agencies under the Special Assistant to Prime Minister was constituted which would trace 100 prominent persons having properties abroad. The unit would give details to the NAB which will take action.