ISLAMABAD: A nine-member delegation of the International Centre for Journalists of USA called on Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) chairman Raja Mohammad Shafqat Khan Abbasi on Thursday.

The delegation is visiting Pakistan under the programme ‘US-Pakistan professional partnership in journalism’. The initiative is aimed at building a long term partnership between the news organisations and content creators of US and Pakistan, and create a better understanding of Pakistani culture and traditions. Briefing the delegation about the functions of the PCP, the chairman said the council had been established to provide a forum to the general public to redress their grievances against the newspapers and news agencies, and also to preserve freedom of the press.

He said the ethical code of practice, which is a part of the PCP Ordinance 2002, was comparable with such code in many countries. He said the media in Pakistan enjoyed unprecedented freedom and provided timely information to the general public.

The US delegation took keen interest in various aspects of the council and asked numerous questions about the mechanism of enforcement of media ethics. They also asked about the nature of complaints made by the general public against the press and ensuing procedures adopted by the council to resolve their grievances.

The US delegation comprised of Odette Yousef, Bureau Reporter WBEZ Chicago, Joe Little, News Reporter, KGTV, 10 News, Nancy San Martin, The Miami Herald, Mark Seibel, McClatchy Washington DC, Bob Gabordi, Executive Editor, Tallahassee Democrat, Stephen Magagnini, Senior Writer/ Reporter, The Sacramento Bee, Emily Donahue, News Director, KUT 90.5 FM in Texas, Austin, Greg Victor, Op-ed/Forum Editor Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Richard F Gootee, Government Reporter at Evansville courier and Press.

Source: The News