ISLAMABAD- The government firmly believes in the freedom of the press, and in pursuance of this commitment, it has promulgated ordinances on October 26, 2002, which would go a long way in promoting healthy and credible journalism in the country, stated by the Federal Secretary Information Syed Anwar Mahmood on October 27, 2002.
“This is a major step forward and a good omen for the press industry,” he stated in response to a query.
The substantive measures taken, he said, would prove to be epoch-making and result in improved government-press-reader relations and the resultant good governance.
“The appreciable thing of these measures,” he said, was that the ordinances have been agreed upon and decided “through consensus” by the government, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE).
The working journalists, he said, have also been given due representation, including those in the Press Council, “which will have an encouraging impact in the time ahead”.
The ordinances promulgated Saturday include Press Council of Pakistan Ordinance-2002, the Freedom of Information Ordinance-2002, the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance-2002, and the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) Amendment Ordinance-2002.
About the PBC Ordinance, he said, it is for the first time that the Board of Executives and the Board of Directors have been separated. Now, the PBC board will have four members from outside i.e. the private sector, one from each province – people of outstanding merit related to media and management.
Besides, to benefit from the expertise of the academicians, the Vice Chancellor of the Allama Iqbal Open University has been given representation, he added.
To a question, Syed Anwar Mahmood said the government is pursuing a policy of openness and liberalisation in respect of the state media, which by itself, is not a minor attainment.
Citing substantive steps taken, he said the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) has been made a corporation in a bid to promote high professionalism and objectivity.
Likewise, he said, Pakistan Television (PTV) has been extended due autonomy, which was never available to it.
Similarly, he said, the PBC was beaming ‘news and views’ based on standard professional content.
“All the three organisations i.e. PTV, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and APP have been given autonomy – which is a matter of great satisfaction for the government that it has managed the media on sound professional lines,” Syed Anwar Mahmood said.
In fact, this liberalisation is reflective of President General Pervez Musharraf’s Oct 17, 1999, pledge to the nation to liberalise the state media. “Hence, it is culmination of that pledge and is certainly a step forward,” he added.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:10/28/2002
