ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb has appreciated the vibrant and free media for strengthening democracy in the country. Addressing a seminar on ‘Challenges facing the country and the role of media’ organised by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) on Wednesday, the minister said that the bill for protection of journalists would soon be passed by parliament, adding that the CPNE members would be given representation in the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). She said that democracy and journalism were interlinked. She said that the media had played a very important role in continuation of the democratic system in the country. She said that the government was trying to dispose of baseless cases between PEMRA and media house owners. She also stressed the need to impart training to journalists. Marriyum said that it was imperative to define constitutional limits for all state institutions for protection of democracy. She urged journalists to avoid sensationalism and present news in its true perspective. Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the minister said that the success of CPEC was the success of all. She urged the media to play its role in the success of the mega project of national interest and create awareness about it in a positive way. The seminar was attended by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Shery Rehman, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulan Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq, MNA Asad Umar, Shibli Faraz, Afrasiyab Khattak of the Awami National Party (ANP), CPNE Secretary General Ejaul Haq, President Zia Shahid, senior Vice President Shaheen Qureshi and senior members, including Rehmat Ali Razi, Mehtab Khan, Akram Sehgal, Dr Jabbar Khattak, Ayaz Khan, Ghulam Nabi Chandio, Tahir Farooq, Qazi Asad, Mushtaq Ahmed, Irfan Athar, Kazam Khan, Abdur Rehman and Ahmed Baloch. The seminar was moderated by CPNE Vice President Amir Mehmood. Published in Daily Times, February 22nd 2018.