Mokarram Hossain (back from Islamabad) :
Pakistan Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Ataullah Tarar said that the government of Pakistan gives much importance to people’s freedom of speech and the rights of the journalists.
He, however, said steps at the international level are urgently needed to stop misuse of social media and spread of false news.
He said this while exchanging views with an eight-member delegation from Bangladesh at the Pakistan Television bhaban in Islamabad. After an eight-day visit to Lahore, Islamabad and Murree, the delegation returned home on the night of May 12.
During the meeting the Pakistan federal minister replied to a volley of questions of the Bangladeshi media team members on the people’s freedom of speech; economic and other important issues.
`He said, “The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is determined for the economic stability of the country. After the coming to power of the present government the economy is getting stronger day by day. The international media are also indicating a positive forecast about the economy of Pakistan”.
Mr. Tarar said the government is taking steps on different infrastructure developments.
These initiatives would not only strengthen the county’s economy, but also create huge employment opportunities. He said the government has created a Special Investment Facility Council to attract the foreign investment in the country.
Replying to a question, he articulated that Pakistan’s tax collection system is being developed.
In this context, he said tax reform at the Federal Bureau of Revenue is being done.
He thanked the Bangladesh journalists for visiting Pakistan and for their interest to know about the government’s economic endeavours. He said economic progress is shining up and our goal is to cut down government expenditure and boost privatization.
The delegation members told the minister that this sort of visit will help strengthen mutual cooperation between the people of the two countries.
They suggested direct air flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Currently there is no direct flight from Bangladesh to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. Since there are huge scopes to boost trade and commerce between Dhaka and Islamabad, the governments of the two countries should talk on the matter without further delay.
Besides, the delegation members also suggested visits of business delegations between the two countries to help enhance trade and commerce between them.
Presently it takes about 14 hours to reach Pakistan via Dubai which is time consuming as well as costly. This discourages visits by the common people of both the countries.
Pakistan’s External Publicity Wing’s Director General Ambreen Jan and senior officials of the Ministry of information and Broadcasting, and the ministry of foreign affairs were present during the meeting.
The Bangladesh media delegation members are: Retired district judge and columnist Iktedar Ahmed, The New Nation Editor Md. Mokarram Hossain, Dhaka Tribune Executive Editor Reaz Ahmed, Business Inside MD Sheikh Sazid, Md. Abdul Wadud of the Daily Inquilab, Jibon Ahmed Hizbullah of NTV, TRT (Turkish media) Bangladesh Representative Md. Kamruzzaaman and Moinul Haque of the New Age.