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MMA regard journalists for their constructive criticism: Minister

PESHAWAR (NNI): Lauding the role of journalist community in identifying social evils and providing guidance to overcome it, Asif Iqbal Daudzai the NWFP Minister for Information and Public Relations has stated that the MMA government had great regard for journalists adding that their constructive criticism would be welcomed for the welbeing of the society.

He was addressing a meeting of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) at a local hotel Peshawar on Thursday. Mr. Asif Iqbal said that the role of journalists had always been very pivotal in putting the country on the path of progress, however, he urged the need of proper projection of the MMA achievements in the newspapers of this province as well as other provinces.

Enumerating the achievements of the MMA government, the Minister told the journalists that the government, besides improving the law and order situation focussed on promotion of industries in the province. He said that we want to create better opportunities for foreign investment so as to attract foreign investors to invest here.

He further informed that investors of the United States, Western countries and Saudi Arabia have assured to invest here adding that the visit of the Provincial Chief Minister had been very successful in this regard.

Daudzai claimed that the MMA Government had fulfilled all its pledges made with the people. In this context he said that the Shariah Bill has been passed unanimously by the Provincial Assembly while the longstanding demand of the people of Chitral regarding construction of lawari tunnel had been fulfilled for which tenders were being opened on 20th instant of the current month.

The Information Minister said that the MMA government was keen to provide all basic facilities equally and without any discrimination. He said that the government was firm on its commitment to eliminate obscenity from the society, however he appealed to the owners of newspapers to discourage the publication of objectionable material and pictures in their publications.

He said that the Chief Minister NWFP had announced the establishment of a welfare fund for journalists while their demands regarding housing colony for journalists and foreign tours were also under the consideration of the government.

Asif Iqbal said that the Frontier government had placed Rs. 3 crore and 29 lac at the disposal of government departments for clearing the advertisement dues of newspapers in the financial year 2002-03, while in the current financial year it has allocated rupees one crore and fifty lac for the purpose out of which 65 lac and 48 thousand rupees has been released to various departments. He assured that remaining dues of newspapers on account of advertisements would also be cleared as early as possible.

Earlier, Arif Nizami, President of APNS welcomed the Provincial Information Minister and apprised him of the problems of journalists. Other journalists who spoke on the occasion include; Syed Ayaz Badshah of Daily Mashriq Peshawar, Mujeebur Rehman Shami of Daily Pakistan, Pir Sufaid Shah of Daily Wahdat besides other prominent journalists.


	MMA regard journalists for their constructive criticism: Minister PESHAWAR (NNI): Lauding the role of journalist community in identifying social evils and providing guidance to overcome it, Asif Iqbal Daudzai the NWFP Minister for Information and Public Relations has stated that the MMA government had great regard for journalists adding that their constructive criticism would be welcomed for the welbeing of the society. He was addressing a meeting of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) at a local hotel Peshawar on Thursday. Mr. Asif Iqbal said that the role of journalists had always been very pivotal in putting the country on the path of progress, however, he urged the need of proper projection of the MMA achievements in the newspapers of this province as well as other provinces. Enumerating the achievements of the MMA government, the Minister told the journalists that the government, besides improving the law and order situation focussed on promotion of industries in the province. He said that we want to create better opportunities for foreign investment so as to attract foreign investors to invest here. He further informed that investors of the United States, Western countries and Saudi Arabia have assured to invest here adding that the visit of the Provincial Chief Minister had been very successful in this regard. Daudzai claimed that the MMA Government had fulfilled all its pledges made with the people. In this context he said that the Shariah Bill has been passed unanimously by the Provincial Assembly while the longstanding demand of the people of Chitral regarding construction of lawari tunnel had been fulfilled for which tenders were being opened on 20th instant of the current month. The Information Minister said that the MMA government was keen to provide all basic facilities equally and without any discrimination. He said that the government was firm on its commitment to eliminate obscenity from the society, however he appealed to the owners of newspapers to discourage the publication of objectionable material and pictures in their publications. He said that the Chief Minister NWFP had announced the establishment of a welfare fund for journalists while their demands regarding housing colony for journalists and foreign tours were also under the consideration of the government. Asif Iqbal said that the Frontier government had placed Rs. 3 crore and 29 lac at the disposal of government departments for clearing the advertisement dues of newspapers in the financial year 2002-03, while in the current financial year it has allocated rupees one crore and fifty lac for the purpose out of which 65 lac and 48 thousand rupees has been released to various departments. He assured that remaining dues of newspapers on account of advertisements would also be cleared as early as possible. Earlier, Arif Nizami, President of APNS welcomed the Provincial Information Minister and apprised him of the problems of journalists. Other journalists who spoke on the occasion include; Syed Ayaz Badshah of Daily Mashriq Peshawar, Mujeebur Rehman Shami of Daily Pakistan, Pir Sufaid Shah of Daily Wahdat besides other prominent journalists.
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