ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has assured the government that the Press in Pakistan will play a positive and helpful role during the critical situation the country is faced with.

In a joint statement, the president of the CPNE, Mujib-ur-Rahman Shami, and the secretary-general, Zahid Malik, have welcomed the written assurance of the secretary of the ministry of information that the government believes in the freedom of the Press and that it has no intention whatsoever to impose press censorship in the background of the current situation in the country.

The statement has emphasized that it is as much the duty of the Press to safeguard the geographical and ideological frontiers of the country as it is that of the government.

The CPNE has called upon the government to extend an helping hand to the Press to create awareness in the country about the dangers of disunity.

Mr Shami and Mr Malik have urged the government to promulgate the revised Press and Publication Ordinance, as, according to their observation, the press industry is facing a number of legal and administrative problems in the continued absence of press laws.