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Govt believes in free press: Javed Jabbar

ISLAMABAD: The government fully acknowledges the need for the country to have a free press and has no plans to introduce new laws to curb it, said Adviser to the Chief Executive on Information and National Affairs Javed Jabbar.

"Our government fully believes in the freedom of press, therefore, we are not issuing any advice to the press or bringing any new laws," he told UAE Khaleej Times in an interview.

He said the press itself had been asking the government to ban dummy publication. "There may be a legislation for a Press Council, provided there is a consensus in the newspaper industry," he observed.

The adviser stressed that there has to be a new law to regulate the functioning of the press as was largely demanded by many people. "We plan to evolve a fair law which would ensure freedom of the press and the quality of news."

Javed Jabbar said the government was studying a proposal to set up a press commission which would study the challenges, the press was currently facing.

The government was interested in enhancing the role of the press and would expect it to help expand literacy and education throughout Pakistan. "We would also remove controls on newsprint to help the press," he assured.

He said the government had allowed the private sector to set up its own television channels to offer more entertainment to the people. At the same time, these new channels could help start educational programmes with a view to improving the literacy rate.

The electronic media could effectively help the government to create awareness among the masses about various issues such as education and health he observed. PPI