Press Freedom Day being observed across world today
Government takes freedom of press as essential part of democracy, said CM Shehbaz.
LAHORE (Web Desk) - Press Freedom Day is being observed across the world including Pakistan today (Wednesday) to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
This day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the 26th Session of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) General Conference in 1991.
Chief Minister of Punjab (CM) Shehbaz Sharif said that the incumbent government takes freedom of press as essential part of democracy. He said that responsible media helps in eliminating corruption, lawlessness and terrorism by playing its role neutrally.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has also urged the journalists to hold rallies throughout the country whereas several media houses will feature stories, interviews, seminars, conferences and in-depth reports related to press freedom issues.
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that any attempt for gagging freedom of press would be tantamount to weaken democracy and encourage discrimination and disparity in the society.
He said PPP leadership had undergone world’s worst media trial in the history at the hands of tin-pot dictators and other opponents but it always stood for freedom of press because our Party’s ideology was to build a society based on tolerance and proactive progress.
He expressed concern that Pakistan’s ranking on the World Press Freedom Index has come down to 139th position in 180 countries, which is very poor and needs to be improved to create better image of our nation in the world.
