KARACHI, Jan 20: At a book-launching ceremony held here on Saturday, speakers highlighted the importance media and its role in understanding the problem of Balochistan in its true perspective.

In spite of its importance because of its geo-political location, Balochistan has failed to get due attention, they lamented, and observed that no serious attempt had been made to address the genuine grievances of the province and its people. As a result, the province had always remained in a perpetual turmoil.

They said that peace in Balochistan was linked with the country’s stability, integrity and progress.

Among the speakers were Javed Jabbar, the founding chairman of the Citizens’ Media Commission of Pakistan, Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Secretary-General of National Party, Prof Zakaria Sajid, a former chairman of the KU’s Department of Mass Communication, Dr Shahida Kazi, Chairperson of the Jinnah University’s Department of Mass Communication, and Jabbar Khattak, Editor of daily Awami Awaz.

The ceremony was organised by the Pakistan Press Foundation at its Vickey Zeitlin Media Library for the launching of “Balochistan Mein Ablagh-i-Aammah – Aghaz wa Irteqa”, authored by Prof Seemi Naghmana Tahir, Chairperson of the Department of Mass Communication, Balochistan University.

The speakers lauded her efforts towards highlighting the role of media in Balochistan, and said although the focus was on media, the book also contained references that shed light on some aspects of the province’s political history and facts, including the accession of the princely state of Kalat.

Javed Jabbar stressed the need for a community-based media that could tackle the problems of common man by responding to the socio-economic needs.

Mir Hasil Bizenjo gave an analytical view of the political developments in that province, and said media should carry a true picture of the developments.

Prof Zakaria Sajid and Dr Shahida Kazi praised Prof Naghmana for highlighting the role of media in a province which was hitherto neglected by all successive governments.