ISLAMABAD, April 22: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday stressed the need of bridging the gap of misunderstanding about Pakistan’s image in the world and expressed the hope that PTV’s new initiative of beaming local programmes in USA will help achieving this goal.
He was speaking at the launch of Pakistan Television’s new channel “PTV Global” for viewers in USA here at the Chaghai Studio, PTV centre Islamabad.
The new channel has been named after “Des ki Dharkan” (country’s heartbeat) and will simultaneously show in USA local news, talk shows, dramas, music and other entertainment programmes.
Describing April 22 as a historic day for the PTV, the prime minister said: “In today’s world of globalisation, image of a country was the most important factor to move forward with honour and dignity. Unfortunately Pakistan’s image is not based on reality and therefore needs to be addressed by presenting our point of view in a professional way.”
Pakistanis are the most hardworking and peaceful nation — a fact that have been recognised by the Prime Minister of Spain and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia during their talks with him, he said adding foreigners, after their visit to Pakistan always conceded that they had find altogether a different face of the country contrary to what they heard and that Pakistanis were the most hospitable nation on earth.
Similarly in US, Pakistan is known for its most competent doctors, who make us all proud to be Pakistani when they extended all out efforts to help the victims of Oct 8, 2005 earthquake.
Referring to the strong and vibrant economy, he said, contrary to the past only because of the robust financial growth we were able to cope with the unexpected earthquake of gigantic proportions and to maintain the oil prices in the country despite the fact that its prices had soared to $75 a barrel.
Still the biggest challenge we are facing today as a nation is to project the concept that Islam is truly a religion of peace, which shun all kinds of terrorism and sectarianism.
The world is shrinking every passing day and to survive in the tidal wave of globalisation, entities like PTV have to encourage fresh initiatives by bringing change without compromising our cultural values and tradition, Mr Aziz said.
