President Zardari stresses for projecting positive image of Pakistan

RADIO PAKISTAN

President Asif Ali Zardari has emphasized the need for projecting positive image of Pakistan to counter negative propaganda and perceptions. He was speaking at the launching ceremony of the PTV's English News and Entertainment Channel in Islamabad on Tuesday. The President expressed the confidence that the launching of English News Channel‚ Pakistan will help achieve this objective. He said we have been mis-read and mis-thought in the international media and there was need to counter this perceptive. The President said majority of the Pakistani young generation especially living abroad did not fully understand Urdu and even they did not understand the poetry of Allama Iqbal and Faiz Ahmed Faiz and other renowned poets. He said in these circumstances‚ there was a need to launch an English News Channel for providing latest‚ correct and accurate information to the young generation and to the international community. The President said launch of yet another TV channel will increase competitiveness in the field of electronic media. According to prepared text of the address‚ the President said the independent media is guarantor of human rights‚ freedom and liberties. He said we recognize and respect his critical role of the media in furthering democracy and the record of this government in upholding freedoms and tolerance for dissent speaks for itself. Referring to media freedom given during the present government‚ the President said the government has not taken any action against anyone in the media. He said the government has extended the hand of friendship to all political forces and added he felt satisfied that this policy of the government has started paying dividends. The President said the government is earnestly addressing issues in media freedom and added that a Press Council has been set up and its Chairman has been appointed. He said now it is the responsibility of the Press Council to move forward and move fast in consultation with all stake holders. The President said the present government has a history of supporting media freedom. He said Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as Prime Minister started the process of liberalization of the media. Addressing the ceremony of PTV English Channel‚ Information Minister said that media is enjoying unprecedented freedom in the country and not a single journalist has been victimized during the last five years. He said that international media has remained biased towards Pakistan and news about the country have been distorted. He hoped that PTV English Channel would project the real face of Pakistan at global level. The Information Minister said that democracy is flourishing in the country and credit for this goes to all the democratic forces. He said that our next target is launching of youth and music channels.