Chaudhry Ahsan Premee
Associated Press Service
ISLAMABAD:The first meeting of Press Council of Pakistan was held here today under the Chairmanship of Raja Mohammad Shafqat Khan Abbasi. The meeting was attended by the following of the Council Syed Faseih Iqbal,Chief Executive, Daily Aiwan-e-Sahafat /Zamana Group of Newspapers, Mr. Siddiq Baloch, Chief Editor, Daily Balochistan Express, Quetta, Mr. Siddiq Baloch, Chief Editor, Daily Balochistan Express, Quetta, Mr. Bachal Leghari, Editor, Nawa-e-Waqt, Karachi , Mr. Majid Nizami, Chief Editor, Nawa-e-Waqt Group of Publications, Mr. Zia Shahid, Chief Editor, Khabrain Group of Publications, Mr. Iqbal Jafri, Editor, Nawa-e-Waqt, Islamabad, Mr. Nasir Zaidi, Editor, The News, Islamabad, Ms. Yasmeen Rehman, MNA, Ms. Saira Afzal Tarar, MNA, Mrs. Nasreen Aslam Azhar, Member National Commission on the Status of Women, Ms. Aayesha Ikram, Director, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Mr. Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami, Chief Editor, Daily Pakistan, Lahore and Mr. Wamiq A. Zuberi, Editor, Daily Business Recorder .
The Chairman in his opening remarks welcome the members of the Press Council for their keen interest and assured them that the Press Council will work for the freedom of the press and the rights of the common man. He said that the Prime Minister himself publicly declared that the Press Council has been made a functional and a vibrant institution. The Chairman assured that all the decisions in PCP would be made with consensus of the Council and there will be no compromise on the freedom of the press. He said that Press Council of Pakistan will be an independent, autonomous and self-regulatory institution which will be develop good media practice.
The members of the Press Council also appreciated the government for rejuvenation of Press Council of Pakistan after a lapse of 8 years. They assured their full support to make it a viable and internationally compatible organization of its kind.
The meeting considered various agenda items including formulation of regulations, as required under section 24 of the PCP Ordinance 2002, proposals for setting up of Regional Offices, design of web-page & monogram and provision of financial resources for the smooth functioning of the Press Council.
The meeting unanimously formed a four members’ rules and regulations committee, with a mandate to finalize the draft regulations for the approval of the Council. The said committee would give its suggestions/recommendations and put up the draft rules and regulations within 15 days which would be circulated to the rest of Council members for their approval.
The Council agreed that an Endowment Fund should be established for the smooth working of the Press Council of Pakistan. The Council approved the design of the web page. It was unanimously decided that the web page should be both in Urdu & English in order to make it accessible to the masses
It was also agreed that the copies of Ordinance of Press Council of Pakistan and Ethical Code of Practice both in Urdu & English will be circulated and displayed to all newspapers and press clubs, to sensitize the journalist and the general public The Council unanimously approved the organogram of Press Council of Pakistan and setting up of offices of PCP in provincial capitals.APS
Associated Press Service
ISLAMABAD:The first meeting of Press Council of Pakistan was held here today under the Chairmanship of Raja Mohammad Shafqat Khan Abbasi. The meeting was attended by the following of the Council Syed Faseih Iqbal,Chief Executive, Daily Aiwan-e-Sahafat /Zamana Group of Newspapers, Mr. Siddiq Baloch, Chief Editor, Daily Balochistan Express, Quetta, Mr. Siddiq Baloch, Chief Editor, Daily Balochistan Express, Quetta, Mr. Bachal Leghari, Editor, Nawa-e-Waqt, Karachi , Mr. Majid Nizami, Chief Editor, Nawa-e-Waqt Group of Publications, Mr. Zia Shahid, Chief Editor, Khabrain Group of Publications, Mr. Iqbal Jafri, Editor, Nawa-e-Waqt, Islamabad, Mr. Nasir Zaidi, Editor, The News, Islamabad, Ms. Yasmeen Rehman, MNA, Ms. Saira Afzal Tarar, MNA, Mrs. Nasreen Aslam Azhar, Member National Commission on the Status of Women, Ms. Aayesha Ikram, Director, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Mr. Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami, Chief Editor, Daily Pakistan, Lahore and Mr. Wamiq A. Zuberi, Editor, Daily Business Recorder .
The Chairman in his opening remarks welcome the members of the Press Council for their keen interest and assured them that the Press Council will work for the freedom of the press and the rights of the common man. He said that the Prime Minister himself publicly declared that the Press Council has been made a functional and a vibrant institution. The Chairman assured that all the decisions in PCP would be made with consensus of the Council and there will be no compromise on the freedom of the press. He said that Press Council of Pakistan will be an independent, autonomous and self-regulatory institution which will be develop good media practice.
The members of the Press Council also appreciated the government for rejuvenation of Press Council of Pakistan after a lapse of 8 years. They assured their full support to make it a viable and internationally compatible organization of its kind.
The meeting considered various agenda items including formulation of regulations, as required under section 24 of the PCP Ordinance 2002, proposals for setting up of Regional Offices, design of web-page & monogram and provision of financial resources for the smooth functioning of the Press Council.
The meeting unanimously formed a four members’ rules and regulations committee, with a mandate to finalize the draft regulations for the approval of the Council. The said committee would give its suggestions/recommendations and put up the draft rules and regulations within 15 days which would be circulated to the rest of Council members for their approval.
The Council agreed that an Endowment Fund should be established for the smooth working of the Press Council of Pakistan. The Council approved the design of the web page. It was unanimously decided that the web page should be both in Urdu & English in order to make it accessible to the masses
It was also agreed that the copies of Ordinance of Press Council of Pakistan and Ethical Code of Practice both in Urdu & English will be circulated and displayed to all newspapers and press clubs, to sensitize the journalist and the general public The Council unanimously approved the organogram of Press Council of Pakistan and setting up of offices of PCP in provincial capitals.APS