LAHORE, Oct 26: Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool approved here on Tuesday the establishment of media centres in the mass communication departments of the public-sector universities in the province.

The media centres to be established under a phased programme will be required to gradually collaborate with Unesco and private-sector satellite channels.

The decision was taken at a meeting with the departmental heads and senior officials of the Lahore College for Women University, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan; and Islamia University, Bahawalpur, at the Governor's House.

The meeting reviewed the prospects of establishing FM radio stations, small-scale TV studios, drama production unit, cable TV channels, and launch of in-house daily newspapers. It also deliberated on the prospects of getting technical assistance from the Business Plus and ARY channels and Samsung. The private TV channels would also provide internship opportunities to the university students.

Unesco representatives George Sequeira and Humala Khalid told the meeting that the organization, under its International Programme for the Development of Communication, would provide financial and technical assistance for the establishment of media centres in public-sector universities.

The governor hoped that the active collaboration between the mass communication departments and electronic media would churn out qualified manpower that would enhance the image of Pakistan at the international level. The collaboration, he said, would help students develop qualities of becoming political analysts, anchorpersons, script writers and news editors.

BZU vice-chancellor Dr Karamat Ali and Islamia University VC Dr Munir Akhtar told the meeting that the universities would soon bring out Daily Zakariya Times and Higher Education News, respectively.