DACCA: President Ayub Khan today [Dec 16] said that Pressmen play a significant role in crea­t­ing awareness of the problems and their solutions.

The President expressed this view during his conversation with the members of the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors at the President’s House here this morning.

Press, he said, was a vital medium of mass communication and had a particularly important role to play in developing countries. In such countries, he said, gigantic problems had to be tackled and it was imperative to secure the involvement of the masses in development efforts.

President Ayub said that criticism made by the Press should be based on knowledge of correct facts. It was essential to develop and promote responsible journalism in the country, he added. He said no profession could function without a self-imposed disciplinary code. The President, therefore, commended the proposal made by the Editors to revive the Code of Ethics and the Court of Honour. He said these institutions should be utilised for protecting good people, but he cautioned against using these institutions for shielding the defaulters.

The President accepted in principle the suggestion that the representatives of the Press should be consulted before taking any action against a newspaper under the law. The President advised the Press to work out a mechanism for implementing the suggestions in consultation with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

President Ayub said that he was glad to meet the distinguished representatives of the Press.

Earlier, the Chairman of the CPNE, Mr Abdus Salam, expressed the desire to maintain and promote understanding between the Government and the Press in an atmosphere of mutual confidence and trust. — Agency

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2017