UNITED NATIONS, Nov 8: The Director-General of Unesco, Koïchiro Matsuura, on Thursday expressed concern for freedom of expression in Pakistan and expressed the hope that President Pervez Musharraf would lift restrictions on the media.

Mr Matsuura was responding to the imposition of strict curbs on independent media in Pakistan, decreed on Nov 3, when President Musharraf suspended the validity of the Constitution.

“I am concerned about the consequences of the emergency measures announced in Pakistan on the fundamental human right of freedom of expression,” the director-general declared.

“It is important that the citizens of Pakistan continue to have access to free information and sustain free and open debate. Freedom of expression and press freedom are integral to sustainable and peaceful democratic societies,” he concluded.