RAWALPINDI, June 9: The President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday directed opening of a dedicated media university for the training and development of media personnel in view of the global advances in media technology.

In a presentation made to the President by Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Muhammad Ali Durrani, the President welcomed the new media team of the government led by Mr Durrani and the Minister of State Tariq Azeem Khan.

The President said the unprecedented freedom enjoyed by the media was paying dividends. Now, Pakistan was proud of having a free and independent media, he said. There was an urgent need to establish a media university in the country for the training and development of media personnel.

Earlier, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani and Secretary Information and Broadcasting Shahid Rafi made a presentation to the President on the working of the Ministry and its attached departments and corporations.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, PML President Ch. Shujaat Hussain, Secretary General PML Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed and senior officials also attended the meeting.

During the presentation, the Information Minister said that new steps were being taken to revitalize Pakistan Television, Radio Pakistan and Associated Press of Pakistan to ensure that these institutions better serve the public interest and come up to the expectations of the people.

The President and the Prime Minister appreciated the proposal to improve news presentation of the PTV, appoint separate Chief Operating Officers for each channel of the PTV, launch direct to home (DTH) service and convert the PTV national as youth and sports channel. The Minister informed the meeting that Pakistan Cricket Board has agreed to sponsor sports programme of the new channel.

The President appreciated the idea of launching electronic news gathering service by APP to bring the national news agency at par with international standards. The APP is also strengthening Arabic and Sindhi services and also launching news services in Pashto and Balochi languages.

The President was briefed about the establishment of media tower by the Ministry in Blue Area Islamabad which would serve as a hub for facilitation of electronic media and telecom companies also providing up-linking facilities to the visiting journalists.

The President emphasized the need of providing timely and accurate information to the media so as to bridge the gap between reality and perception as ultimately the conflict between reality and perception results in adversely affecting the country’s image.

The Prime Minister informed the President that a series of regular interaction of the federal government ministries with the media have been planned from July 1. Each Minister would meet the press and highlight the performance of his ministry/division. This interaction would be on quarterly basis.

The minister informed the President that a comprehensive welfare package for journalists was being prepared by the ministry.

The package envisages conferment of civil awards by the President to journalists who have rendered distinguished services in their respective fields. Provision of appropriate facilities to the Press Clubs and housing for journalists is also on the anvil.—APP