By IANS,
Mumbai: A 22-member Indian media goodwill delegation will leave for Pakistan Nov 14 on a week-long tour, a Mumbai Press Club official said here Friday.
The delegation, led by the club chairman Prakash Akolkar, will have a packed itinerary in Karachi and Hyderabad.
Besides interacting with their media counterparts, the delegation will meet social workers, peace activists, politicians, businessmen and celebrities.
“The visit is extremely significant as it is a first of its kind. This also marks a series of bilateral visits between journalists of the two cities, Mumbai and Karachi in particular and India and Pakistan in general. Soon we shall host a media delegation from Karachi Press Club,” Mumbai Press Club president Gurbir Singh said.
The visit is significant on several counts as both Karachi and Mumbai are the commercial hubs of Pakistan and India respectively and enjoy ancient historical ties, said visit co-ordinator Jatin Desai, and official spokesman for the delegation, invited by the Karachi Press Club.
Historical records reveal that there used to be regular ferry services between the two port cities and the trade ties were quite comprehensive in the past, Desai said.
The delegation comprises a mix of mediapersons covering politics, social issue, business, films, crime and terror and has several women, photojournalists and representatives of the electronic media.
“It is a significant step in fostering a bond between the journalist community of the two countries. Several months of planning have gone before the visit finally materialised,” said club secretary Sunil Shivdasani.
During the visit, the delegation would attend a round table discussion on the role of SAARC in bringing South Asian people closer. The team would be hosted by several politicians including the governor and chief minister of Sindh.
The delegation would visit the offices and facilities of media houses, viz, Jang Group of Newspapers, The News, Geo TV, Awami Awaz, Daily Business Recorder and The Dawn, the office of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Taking time out for sightseeing, the delegation will tour Karachi University, newspaper offices, the National Museum and Mohatta Palace.