Islamabad, (Parliament Times) Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Ch. Anwarul Haq has said that the government fully believed in the freedom of the press and was solving the problems of the state media on a priority basis and has increased the budget allocated for the print media.
The installment received before the end of the financial year will also pay the arrears and more funds will be released. A committee has been formed to solve the problems faced by the journalists.
The trend of sensationalist journalism that only considers itself to be right and righteous in the state is constantly increasing. This trend is causing deep social concern for which legislation is indispensable. Legislation on media regulation is framed. The government committee should consult the All Kashmir Newspapers Society before presenting the bill in the assembly. A committee consisting of the most senior minister of Azad Kashmir, Col (R) Waqar Ahmad Noor, Minister of Law and Justice Mian Abdul Waheed, Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments of Azad Kashmir Ahmed Raza Qadri are working on the draft of this bill.
He expressed these views while talking to President All Kashmir Newspapers Society Amjad Chaudhry here at Jammu Kashmir House Islamabad. All Kashmir Newspapers Society informed the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir about the problems faced by the state media. The Prime Minister said that due to the improper use of social media in the state, especially the print media, all Facebook users have started to think of themselves as journalists and huge problems are being created in the society due to self-created social media channels. Strict legislation will be passed in this regard.
The disturbing situation that the society is suffering at the moment, and its effects are also seen in Azad Kashmir. In investigative journalism, a major news story or an allegation is made only after serious investigation and evidence gathering with impartiality. But irresponsible, and sensationalist journalism are becoming popular in our country, which is condemnable in any case, he said.
I am a supporter of freedom of expression. However, freedom of speech does not mean spreading lies or trying different tactics to achieve personal goals or just to justify one’s views. This is not only a violation of human rights but also a violation of the basic individual rights of people. Journalism is a responsible and sacred profession and describing various issues and events in their proper context is the real duty of a true journalist.
No aspect of life has been free from the effects of media. The media is the guardian of democratic values. To bring forward news based on solid facts against any minister or bureaucrat. False propagandists should be discouraged from the level of AKNS. Misuse of social media is causing social evils in the state, moral values ??should be taken care of in Azad Kashmir. All Kashmir Newspaper Society should punish such people who are becoming a nuisance to the society, he said.
On this occasion, the President of All Kashmir Newspapers Society demanded from the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir that the allocation of the budget allocated for the state print media in the current financial year should be made possible. The limit of paper rolls that are strangling the state newspapers should be removed from 30 lakh to 5 lakh. The conditions should be relaxed for digital channels of newspapers, and news websites (social media platforms) to be registered in Azad Kashmir. The quota of advertisements should be allocated on an equal basis in the three divisions of Azad Kashmir.
He said that the state media is the true heir of the Azadi Kashmir movement, which is also the spokesperson of the Kashmiri people living abroad. The services of every state media are indispensable for the interests of the state. The stoves of thousands of households associated with this industry are likely to go cold. The volume of advertisements should be increased so that the newspaper industry would survive in the current situation.
