US envoy hopes for free media

Published December 1, 2007

ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: The South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) here on Friday organised a conference on media freedom in Pakistan. People associated with the print and electronic media and representing different media organisations, including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, All Pakistan Newspapers Society and the Pakistan Broadcasting Association, participated in the conference held to promote freedom of media, safety of journalists and to find out ways to achieve these goals.

Speaking on the occasion, Safma president Nusrat Javed said the concept of democracy was incomplete if the media did not have complete freedom.

In the current scenario, he said, media people should keep themselves well equipped regarding their knowledge and skills.

PFUJ secretary-general Mazhar Abbas said that in the international political scene, media people should keep their security a priority.

US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson stressed the need for efforts to continue the democratic process in the country. She hoped that democracy would flourish in Pakistan and freedom of media would be ensured.

The participants said the civil society should play a more active role to ensure the freedom of media.—APP

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