ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has urged South Asian media to help remove misunderstanding and build an atmosphere of peace and friendship among countries of the SAARC region, Dispatch News Desk (DND) reported on Wednesday.
Addressing a South Asia Media Summit in Islamabad, the Prime Minister said the region direly needs peace and economic development, adding that unresolved political disputes are undermining the potential of the region to emerge as a robust economic grouping.
The Prime Minister said heavy responsibility rests on the shoulders of leadership of the region to show statesmanship and courage to resolve difference.
PM Ashraf said Pakistan attaches great importance to SAARC and has fervently supported the principles and objectives of its charter. We believe that SAARC has a great potential to become a model of regional cooperation. Pakistan has played its role in this regard and is ready to go an extra-mile, he said.
He said media has become a soft power with the potential to embrace all aspects of the lives of nations. He said media is bulwark of fundamental rights and human liberties and acts as a watch-dog against any excesses by the Government.
It should, however, remain within the bounds of moral and professional ethics, social values and adhere to the regulatory mechanism in place lest it encourages chaos in the society, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister further said media can enjoy its freedom only in a democratic dispensation and democracy can flourish in an environment where media is independent. He assured that the present democratic government will continue to protect media freedom and facilitate it in every possible manner.
DND
