By NNN-APP
Islamabad : Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani Saturday stressed upon the media to share observance of certain code of conduct in order to secure issues of national interests.
“The freedom enjoyed by media in the country had come to stay and there is no restriction on freedom of expression,� he said while addressing a ceremony held here to award licenses to five new TV channels and landing rights to six others, at PEMRA headquarters.
Secretary Information and Broadcasting Syed Anwar Mahmood and Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Iftikhar Rashid were also present on the occasion.
The minister said government is confronting the challenge of extremism and media’s support in this regard was very much appreciative.
“We want to formulate a joint strategy in collaboration with media to avoid projection of elements who are causing extremism and bringing bad name to the country,� he added.
He asked PBA, APNE and CPNE to formulate a code of conduct so that the projection of certain elements could be checked who wanted to exploit masses to attain their vested interests and ulterior motives.
He particularly mentioned the illegal act of abduction of some persons belonging to a friendly country by the administration of Lal Masjid and said formulation of special media code would definitely discourage such incidents in future.
Replying to a question, the minister said that representatives of Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) would meet the concerned government officials on Monday to present their proposals on electronic media code of conduct.
“The government took pride in having pioneered the establishment of private TV channels and considers it a source of competition and accountability,� he said.
He said that the government’s initiative taken for the development of media was moving in the right direction as the investment made in this sector has remained within the country.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani expressed the hope that the dawn of new beginning in media sector has created job opportunities and introduced a healthy culture of quality competition among the media outlets.
Having facilitated the birth and growth of the electronic media in the private sector, President Pervez Musharraf was keen that it should grow healthier and stronger without any hindrance, he added.
Regarding independence given to media, Muhammad Ali Durrani said the media never witnessed such an unprecedented freedom in the past and added “this shows government’s conviction towards free media.�
“The fast growth in the media sector is a welcome sign, thanks to prudent government policies being implemented under the visionary leadership of President Pervez Musharraf. We will not only take the development in media sector ahead but the government would also take further measures to support media in the country,� he said.
Terming the ongoing year as unparallel in country’s history for media development, he said it is evident from the huge allocation which is 684 per cent higher than previous year.
“Whether it is the launching of Islamabad Media University, Direct to Home or Associated Press of Pakistan’s Electronic News Gathering Services, media personnel would be the end receivers,� he added.
He said 52 media projects will be launched in the year 2007-08, which would initiate the second phase of government’s commitment to bring specialization to the media field,� he added.
The minister said with the induction of new Tv channels, their total number will swell to 75 by the year end.
About Media University, he said, it will be entirely dedicated to teaching and research in media and its related fields and would be completed at the cost of Rs. 500 million.
‘Direct-To-Home’ facility (DTH) will be completed at the cost of Rs 3500 million and would totally change viewers’ TV experience, he said, adding, it would put the broadcaster directly in touch with the viewers without any interruption.
The minister said the government has also launched APP Electronic News Gathering (ENG) service at the cost of Rs. 246 million. The project will provide news service catering to the needs of national and international TV channels, and would augment their reporting of events.
FM Radios will reach at district level, he said, adding, by the end of this year 140 FM Radio channels will be fully operational.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman PEMRA Iftikhar Rashid expressed his felicitation to the new license holders and termed it another promising addition to private electronic media regime.
He termed it another milestone that PEMRA has achieved in pursuance to its policy of offering wide variety and quality channels to viewers.
The chairman PEMRA expressed his resolve to encourage and facilitate the prospective entrants in this domain in order to fill the national landscape with healthy information, entertainment and education.
He further said that issuance of these channels is interspersed with PEMRA policies of penetrating media access to every nook and corner of society and indicates government’s resolve towards promotion of media in the country.
He further added that with the liberal and accommodative government policies this growth pace is sure to gain greater acceleration in the days ahead.
Later, the minister awarded satellite Tv licenses to five owners and landing rights permission to six others.