Peace in South Asia: Musharraf asks Media to serve as Catalyst
By Rafique Goraya - Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Chief

RAWALPINDI: President General Pervez Musharraf Tuesday said media in South Asia can serve as a catalyst in promoting peace and harmony for the collective well-being of one fifth of humanity living in the region.

He remarked this during a meeting with Information Ministers from seven member countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, who have gathered in Pakistan for a two-day conference to explore ways for promoting regional cooperation.

Federal Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Minister of State for Information Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli and Secretary Information Shahid Rafi were present during the meeting.

'Media has Important Role'

Welcoming the SAARC information ministers, the President wished them a comfortable stay and expressed the hope that they would have fruitful deliberations during the conference.

President Musharraf observed that media can play an important role in developing understanding, fostering peace and promoting regional tourism but stated that for peace and harmony to sustain in the long-term, the regional countries should remove impediments in the way of a lasting and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Better economic opportunities

"We can provide better economic opportunities to our peoples by establishing durable peace through resolution of our disputes". South Asia, he said, is endowed with vast tourism potential and the media can help promote tourism and regional interaction for the common benefit of all.

Reiterating Pakistan's commitment to freedom of expression, he said the media in Pakistan enjoys unprecedented freedom, with several new private TV and radio channels appearing on the horizon.

Ministers' Gratitude

The SAARC information ministers thanked the President for the opportunity to call on him.

They expressed warm appreciation for the hospitality extended to them and excellent arrangements made by the Ministry of Information for the regional moot.

SAARC Info Moot begins today

The fourth two-day Conference of Information Ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is being held here from today, Wednesday.

Chairman Senate Mohammadmian Soomro would inaugurate the conference which is being attended by all the member states of the regional cooperation.

The senior officials of the Information Ministries of the member states met here Tuesday to take up the proposed agenda for the meeting of the Ministers.

The conference would discuss different means of cooperation in information communication sector particularly in the wake of emerging trends during its two working sessions being held on today, December-15 and 16.

The Objectives

The member states are likely to ponder on the ways and means to improve the electronic as well as print media coverage in the region through exchange of experiences of each other.

The Conference will consider setting up of a SAARC Media Development Fund and free movement of media personnel within the region.

Besides, considering recommendations of the third meeting of the Heads of National TV, Radio and National News Agencies of members countries held in Dhaka on April 6 and 7, 2004, establishment of a Regulatory Framework to balance functioning between the private channels and the public service broadcasters in SAARC countries is likely to be taken up in the conference.

SAARC Information Center

It will discuss alternative suggestions and proposals on the nature and scope of the proposed SAARC Information Center, to be established voluntarily by the government of Nepal.

The conference may also consider progress on the implementation of weekly Radio news programme "SAARC News" and monthly TV news programme "SAARC Roundup".

It is likely to take up matters relating to introducing new tools of technology and creativity for enhancing the SAARC publicity within and outside region and institution of a SAARC Film Festival covering feature films, telefilms and documentaries.

The meeting will also decide venue as well as date for holding of next ministers' meeting. The Conference would consider the revised plan of action on information and media. Model guidelines on transnational satellite broadcasting in the region will also come under discussion.

The Conference is also likely to evolve a SAARC common position for presentation at the World Summit on Information Society to be held at Tunis in November 2005.

The South Asia bears high significance as far as media coverage is concerned and this conference will go a long way in enhancing cooperation in the field.

The participants of the conference will also undertake a visit of Taxila Museum on December-16. A joint press conference has also been planned for December-16.●