Govt believes in responsible media freedom, says Soomro
ISLAMABAD:Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammad Mian Soomro has said that government believes in the freedom of a responsible media and would take all necessary measures to ensure conducive conditions for the smooth functioning of the media.
He was chairing a high level meeting here on Saturday to review the media related issues and the role of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. He said the role of the media would be significant during the upcoming elections and it has to discharge its obligations with responsibility.
While commenting on the prevailing government media relations, the Prime Minister said that government sincerely desires to accommodate the concerns of all the stakeholders nevertheless it has to be realized that no institution in any state of the world is left un-regulated. He said a balance has to be maintained in the best interest of the society.
He said that the challenges of misperception within and outside the country need to be addressed at the earliest. The Prime Minister said that the media focus be turned to improving the political atmosphere leading up to the forthcoming general elections.
The Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Information to accord priority to the process of consultation with the representative bodies of the media and finalize mutual understanding on the Code of Conduct for the regulation of Media, as per law.
Soomro said that the present caretaker government has specific objectives and tenure and all efforts should be focused on the ultimate end of ensuring free, fair and transparent elections.
Information Minister Nisar A. Memon apprised the meeting of the outlines of proposed publicity efforts to be undertaken by the Ministry for ensuring free media coverage of the general elections. The meeting was informed by the concerned officials that the process of consultation and dialogue with all the representative bodies of the media on the Code of Ethics/Conduct are continuing satisfactorily and the understanding being developed is encouraging.
The meeting was also informed that the negotiations with two private TV channels on the Code of Conduct for regulation of electronic media under the PEMRA law are continuing to resolve the issues
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