22 May 2004	Saturday	02 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, May 21: A conference of information ministers held here on Friday discussed proposals to enhance cooperation to promote a coordinated approach on issues of national and international importance through the media.

The conference which was presided over by the Federal Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was attended by NWFP's Minister for Information Asif Iqbal Daudzai, Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Information Salahuddin Haider, Adviser to AJK Prime Minister Raja Mohammad Farooq, Federal Secretary for Information Syed Anwar Mehmood, heads of Pemra, PTV, PBC, Secretary Information Sindh, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, Secretary Information Punjab Taimur Azmat Usman and senior officials of media-related institutions of the federal and provincial governments.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Rashid said the government was pursuing a free media policy under which it had awarded licences to a number of private television channels while more than a dozen were in the pipeline.

The meeting considered a demand of journalists to link government advertisements with the implementation of the 7th Wage Board award. Sheikh Rashid said he would soon hold a meeting with the APNS to discuss the matter and resolve it through dialogue.

Mr Anwar Mehmood said that the coverage area of PTV-National was being expanded by installing new booster stations in various parts of the country. The channel, he said, would soon launch a news bulletin covering district in order to project development and other activities being held at the grassroots level.