PESHAWAR, Aug 3: NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has said that his government believed in freedom of expression and promised to work for the development of the newspaper industry of the province.

In addition to the national press, the regional newspapers were also playing a remarkable role in highlighting the problems of the people and uplift of the province, he underscored.

Talking to a delegation of the All Pakistan News Papers Society (APNS) led by its secretary general Mohammad Aslam Qazi, at the Frontier House here on Sunday, Mr Hoti said that efforts would be made to strengthen political contacts and mutual harmony among the provinces.

The members of the delegation discussed prevailing law and order and political situation and developmental activities in the province with the chief minister. They also apprised Mr Hoti about the problems being faced by the newspaper industry.

The chief minister said that it was high time to work for national harmony and inter-provincial solidarity keeping in view the prevailing uncertain situation.

He also stressed the need for inter-provincial visits of media people in order to know about the situation of other provinces and gain benefit from each others’ experience.

He said that the nation could only survive if it was united as the unity could steer the country out of the crises.

Mr Hoti also informed the APNS members about the government policies regarding maintenance of peace and its efforts to launch developmental schemes for the wellbeing of the masses. The delegation praised the polices of the provincial government.

Mr Hoti said that the coordination committee of the four provincial chief ministers would hold series of meetings in the provincial capitals in which ways would be explored for developing consensus regarding resolution of the problems being faced by the federating units.

Meanwhile, members of the provincial assembly have been advised to visit the chief minister's secretariat on Thursday as part of their weekly meetings with the Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti. The MPAs can meet the chief minister on Thursday (August 7) for discussing the problems being faced by the people of their respective constituencies, said an official statement here on Sunday.—APP