Daily Times

President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday urged the media and the society to play their role in nation building along with the economic development of the country.

“All the indicators are in place to herald that Pakistan will achieve moral stability. The way we hosted millions of Afghan refugees and handled the terrorism, manifests that Pakistan’s moral fiber is very strong,” he said, while addressing an award distribution ceremony held to recognise the contribution of the television channels in raising awareness through public service messages.

The ceremony was also attended by First Lady Samina Arif Alvi, Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, PEMRA Chairman Mirza Salim Baig, renowned news anchors, representatives of journalists unions and senior journalists.

The president conferred first award to ARY Media Group for allocating 7,560 minutes during the first quarter (January to March 2019) for public service messaging, second award to Dawn Media Group for spending 7,440 minutes and third award to GNN News for allocating 6,660 minutes for the cause.

President Alvi told the gathering that the media owed responsibility to reform the nation by dedicating more time for public service messaging on health, human rights, water conservation and other social issues.

He said even in their programs focused at arts, writings and dramas, the media should inculcate the aspects of nation building.

He said it was not mere the duty of the government or Prime Minister Imran Khan rather it was everyone’s responsibility to reform the nation using every medium.

He said the television channels were equipped with the biggest tool for national reformation which they should utilise to create awareness on stunted growth, malnutrition, breastfeeding, cleanliness, women rights in inheritance and water conservation.

President Alvi said the nation building was not possible unless media took up the social issues. He said the frequent airing of certain public service messages would deliver a clear message to the masses in changing their habits and improving their lifestyle.

Referring to the transitions of media from print to electronic and now social media, the president said unfortunately the negative news got far more mileage than the positive one, particularly in the era of social media.

He said the religion and training created the social fiber of the nation. Even the State of Madina was a social revolution, not merely the religious one.

Earlier, addressing the ceremony, SAPM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan thanked the president for introducing a mechanism to reward the media outlets for their reformative role.

Highlighting the vitality of the public service messages, she said such contents also proved to be an effective tool to change the life of the common man.

She said with the coordination of the media owners, the government desired to promote the trend of public service messaging as the country lacked such a system in the past.

However, she said under the law, the segment of public service messaging had been made part of media’s responsibility but it could not be enforced effectively. But this was being achieved after the president took special interest and engaged with the media owners on the subject.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to protect the fundamental rights of freedom of speech, she said it was also essential to ensure its positive utilization for societal development as per the vision of President Alvi.

She said keeping in view its vitality, the Information Ministry had also established a social media cell. However, she assured to address the gaps between the laws of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and use of social media.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said the roadmap given by the president was meant to improve the flow of information in the country. She also assured to make all out efforts to promote the country’s positive image internationally using different mediums.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said besides expecting their rights from the state, the people should also fulfill their responsibilities honestly including the payment of taxes. The tax reforms agenda launched by the government was part of the very process, she added.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan told the ceremony that after 18 years, the ministry had announced the Eighth Wage Board Award to protect the rights of the journalists, with the coordination of the media owners. She said the ministry would play a role of a bridge to create harmonious relations between the employees and employers of the media industry.

PEMRA Chairman Salim Baig said the credit for this initiative of Channel of the Quarter Award went to President Alvi who had directed to shortlist the television channels allocating maximum time for public service messaging.

He said the Pakistani media had achieved tremendous progress and established its identity. The television channels and the FM radio had also played important role for public awareness.