ISLAMABAD, 3 May 2005 (UN Information Centre) -- The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), UNESCO and Allama Iqbal Open University jointly organised a panel discussion at the auditorium of Allama Iqbal University, H-8 Islamabad, with the participation of experts from the Pakistani media organisations. Renowned panellists from the media, Mr Hamid Mir of Geo Television, Mr Muhammad Ziauddin of DAWN, Mr Khalid Akhtar of The News, Syed Talhat Hussain of Aaj Television, Ms Katreena Hussain of PTV, Mr Afzal Khawaja of The Nation and Mr Ashfaq Ahmed Gondal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting took part in the discussion. The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, H. E. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, was the chief guest. A free-lance journalist, Mr Muhammad Abdul Malick, moderated the session.
Approximately 250 people attended the session, most of whom were students of M.A. and MPhil courses in journalism of Allama Iqbal Open University, Fatima Jinnah Women University, National University of Modern Languages and the Federal Government Margalla College for Women. Representatives of NGOs, government officials, professors of mass communication as well as working journalists also constituted the audience.
The session started with remarks by Prof Dr Syed Altaf Hussain, Vice Chancellor of Allama Iqbal Open Univeristy. It was followed by the messages of the UNESCO Director General and of the UN Secretary-General. The message of Director General of UNESCO, read by the Director of the UNESCO office in Pakistan, highlighted the theme of this year "Media and Good Governance". Whereas the UN Secretary-General's message read by the UNIC Director referred to the Millennium Development Goals and his UN reform proposal "In Larger Freedom" that will be discussed at the forthcoming General Assembly Summit in September this year. The UNIC Director also laid a guideline for the discussion.
A lively exchange of opinions ensued among the participants. The Federal Minister was actively engaged in the discussion with the students and panelists. Questions and answers touched on various issues such as the freedom of expression, the relationship between the government and the media, the responsibility of the state in promoting pluralistic media, abduction of journalists, democratic reporting, media laws and the scope of students in mass communication in their future profession.
The session ended with closing remarks by the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting.