LAHORE: Jointly organised by Information Department, Punjab government, Foundation for Promotion of Academic Collaboration (FPAC) and German Press Foundation (DPV), the International Journalism Conference 2017 with theme “Media and Society, Future and Beyond” started on Saturday. Spokesman of Punjab government Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, while representing the chief minister, inaugurated the opening session. Delegations of senior journalists from Germany, Afghanistan, Iran, Spain, India, USA, Malta and Denmark participated in the event. Speaking at the opening session of the conference, the chief guest read message from Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif who welcomed the participants and delegations of the conference and emphasized universities of Pakistan to learn experience and vies shared by acclaimed foreign journalists. “Media from Pakistan and abroad will sought after solution of problems faced by Pakistan and other countries as well,” he said. Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan applauded the bravery of Pakistani journalists who, he said, risked their lives while covering incidents of terrorism. He pointed out that number of terrorism had been significantly decreased by initiatives taken by the government. The nation would never bow down before terrorism, reiterated the spokesman. Commending the role of electronic media in particular, he said that by adopting principle of balance reporting and impartiality they could raise awareness about such issues. Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan assured the journalists that the government would fully support them. German Press Foundation President Christian Zarm, Director International Media DPV Shamsul Haq, Hanns H Mielke (Malta), Axel Rahmlow (USA), Klaus J Stanek Nierenz and Karl-Heinz Roghofer (Germany), Grit Buttner Berthold (Denmark), Bahadury Ainuddin (Afghanistan), Faimah Shokri (Iran), senior professor of Journalism Dr Mugheesuddin Sheikh, Dr Anjum Niaz and president of the conference Aamir Rafique also addressed the opening session. Panel discussions were also part of the international conference. Published in Daily Times, December 10th 2017.