KARACHI: CM stresses cordial govt-press relations: APNS awards ceremony
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, March 18: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar has stressed the need for harmonious relations between the press and the government as the press plays an important role in building civil society.
Recalling the important role the press played in restoration of the democratic process in the country together with political parties and other sections of society, he said in Pakistan democracy and promotion of freedom of the press were dependent on each other.
Chief Minister Mahar, who was the chief guest at the 16th APNS Awards ceremony held in the compound of Hindu Gymkhana on Tuesday, said law and order was the first priority of his government and it was striving to ensure security of life and property to all.
He vowed to guard the freedom of the press and said the government would like the press to perform in an unfettered atmosphere giving objectivity the primary importance so that it can promote our true image as an enlightened and forward-looking nation among the community of nations.
He recalled the role of the press in projecting ideas and in providing guidance to society and said in this context the freedom of the press assumed added importance.
Mr Mahar said after becoming chief minister cases of hardships of two newspapers were brought to his knowledge and his government was considering to bail them out of difficulties.
Giving an instance of the existing good relations and mutual cooperation between the press and the government, the cheif minister referred to the Hawkesbay scheme where members of Karachi Press Club had been provided plots, but its development work could not be carried out for want of finance, the chief minister announced that, according to his commitment, he was issuing orders for release of the first instalment of Rs10 million for development work at Hawkesbay scheme.
About the proposal to give the heritage building of former Freemason Lodge, which now houses the office of the Sindh Wild Life Management Board, on long lease to the APNS as its head quarters, Mr Mahar said a committee would be formed to give due consideration to the proposal.
He said the Sindh cabinet had given its approval to a proposal for a change in the advertisement policy 2000 to include six newspapers for government advertisement. This would help the regional press to tide over their financial problems.
Talking about the issue of amending the Information Act of 2002, he hoped that the federal government would take necessary steps and would do the needful.
Earlier, in his address of welcome, the President of the All-Pakistan News Papers Society, Hameed Haroon, recalled that it was the 50th year of the founding of the APNS whose office-bearers were elected democratically in accordance with its constitution.
He drew the attention of the chief minister to a need to review the Sindh government’s media advertisement policy. He said a plan should be announced for payment of an unpaid amount of Rs110 million that had been outstanding since 1990 against government advertisements, a proper security alert plan for providing protection to the newspaper establishments, individual journalists and the newspaper distribution system, etc.
Referring to the dialogue with the federal government for ensuring freedom of the press in the country, he said the Freedom of Press Act 2002 did not conform to the point of view of the APNS as it curtailed the freedom of the press. “It would not be acceptable to us without amendments,” he declared.
After the speech of the chief guest, awards were distributed.
AWARDS:
Journalists: Best investigative report: Samina Ibrahim (Newsline); scoop of the year: Rauf Klasra (Dawn); best column: (English) I.A. Rehman (Newsline); best column: (Urdu) Tariq Mahmood Mian (Nawa-i-Waqt); best column: (regional) Jami Chandio (Ibrat); best feature: (English) Zafar Abbas (Herald);
Best feature: (Urdu) Ghulam Mohiuddin (Jang); best feature: (regional) Saleh Billo (daily Sindh); best article of the year 1999 and 2000: Syed M. Aslam (Pakistan & Gulf Economist); best cartoon: M. Khaliq Khan Paki (Qaumi Akhbar), and best photograph: Mubarak Almas (Khabrain).
Advertising: Best copy award: (Urdu) Prestige Communications for Tuc Lu: ‘Office Time’; best visual design: (colour) Synergy Advertising for Mianz: ‘Wear Your Mood’; best visual design: (black & white) Orient Advertising, Ministry of Population Welfare, for ‘Parcham Rahe Lehrata’; best public service campaign: Interflow Communications, ‘This is a Murder Weapon.’
Public Relations: The presidential award for excellent performance to S.M. Imran Gardezi, G.M. public affairs, PIA.
KARACHI, March 18: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar has stressed the need for harmonious relations between the press and the government as the press plays an important role in building civil society.
