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Govt believes in free flow of information: NA informed
December 13, 2019

The National Assembly was informed on Friday that government fully guarantees right to freedom of expression and right to access to the information and it has not put any sort of ban on freedom of expression.

Responding to a question during Question Hour in the House, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said government believes in free flow of information and freedom to report and does not believe in press advice and censorship.

He said government always welcomes the objective and healthy criticism from the media.

He said government expects self-regulation by the media and believes in persuasive approach to implement code of ethics and conduct. 

He said liberal media policy of the government resulted in exponential growth of newspapers, TV and Radio Channels in private sector.

The Minister of State further informed the House that the government is in the process of finalizing Journalist Welfare and Protection Bill, 2019 to ensure safety and security of journalists and their families.

He said the government is providing financial assistance to the deceased journalists’ families in education and healthcare.

To another question, Ali Muhammad Khan said PTV has become an earning institution from a loss making institution and the state TV has earned a profit 350 million rupees during the last fiscal year.

Responding to a question, Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Akram has said 50,000 youth belonging to less developed areas will be provided technical hands-on skills.

She said Skills For All strategy has been launched to provide market oriented skills training to the poor and unemployed persons especially residing in less developed areas like Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir southern Punjab and rural Sindh.

The House will now meet at 4 p.m. on Monday.

 

  Akram/Mustafa