ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday urged media organisations to ensure responsible reporting by exercising due diligence in verifying facts.
Addressing an awards ceremony at All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) in Islamabad, the prime minister emphasised the need to check facts to ensure objectivity in media reporting.
He also highlighted the government’s resolve to uphold freedom of the media.
“The present government resolved to safeguard freedom of expression [and media] from day one. But it is your responsibility to ensure objective reporting,” he told the audience, adding that it was healthy to criticise but equally important to highlight the positives.
PM Abbasi called for a self-regulating mechanism to ensure responsible and objective media reporting, while emphasising the importance of facts-based reporting to the country’s progress.
“The media needs reforms today more than it did ever before,” he said.
The premier noted that censorship was useless in today’s age of social media. “Social media has [transformed the media landscape] by making all information available to anyone.”
He said media censorship may render short-term advantages but it was never in national interests, especially in the modern age.
