Day: June 8, 2022

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Balance in expression can create national, social harmony

Lahore, June 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Speakers at an international media conference have highlighted the significance of balance in freedom of expression as it can play an important role in creating national and social harmony in Pakistan and strengthening the country economically. They were of the view that the revival of the economy was one of the most important issues of the country at present and in this regard, the media should play its role in providing an environment conducive to foreign direct investment and building a positive image of the country.

The conference titled “Balancing the Expression: Exploring Antagonism in World Media Ecosystem” is being organized by Punjab University Department of Communication and Media Research, Lahore Garrison University, Lahore College for Women University, NUML and other institutions. Senior Defense Analyst Lt. Gen. (r) Ghulam Mustafa was the special guest of the conference while Vice Chancellor Lahore Garrison University Major General (r) Shehzad Sikandar, Dean Social Sciences LG and Dr Noman Majeed, Senior Journalist and Analyst Ali Sajjad, Director Punjab University School of Communication Studies Prof Dr Noshina Saleem, Chairman LGU Department of Mass Communication Dr Amir Mehmood Bajwa, Focal Person Assistant Professor Seemab Far Bukhari, eminent media persons, faculty members, researchers and students participated in the conference.

In his address, Maj Gen (r) Shehzad Sikandar said that international media conferences are unique because they explore national and international opinions on several issues. He said that our country was facing a very critical situation due to fake news, misinformation and disinformation. He said that there was a need to strengthen the institution of media. He urged the people to take various measures to prevent false news. Addressing the conference, Lt Gen (r) Ghulam Mustafa said that we should refrain from believing in any one-sided information and should do research to verify facts. He said that we would live on the things that were taught to us from childhood.

“In order to bring change in the society, it is important that we continue to learn and give up things that are harmful to us,” he said, adding that Pakistan was not a poor country but we needed to fix our problems and media must play its role in this regard. In the inaugural session of the conference, Dean Social Sciences Lahore Garrison University Dr Noman Majeed, DG PEMRA Punjab Ikram Bakht, Dr Sohail Ikram and Dr Humble Ikram along with anchor-persons Mohsin Bhatti, Najam Wali and PJ Mir expressed their views. The speakers said that first of all we have to decide whether the media changes our society or we ourselves. They emphasized that our society was largely being affected by the spread of fake news.

They said that it was unfortunate that some media owners and journalists encourage irrational and fake news in certain circumstances which also damages the reputation of the journalism profession. The speakers said that the trend of giving “breaking news” first had eroded quality and ethics in electronic media reporting. Dean School of Media and Communication Studies University of Management and Technology Prof Dr Anjum Zia, Punjab University School of Communication Studies Professor Dr Hanan Mian, Dean of Humanities FC College Lahore Prof Dr Altafullah Khan also spoke on the occasion. On the first day of the conference, researchers presented their papers. The closing ceremony of the conference will be held on Thursday (today) at Al Raazi Hall, Punjab University New Campus at 3pm.

For more information, contact:

Registrar,

University of the Punjab

Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan

Tel: +92-42-99231102

Fax: +92-42-99231103

E-Mail: registrar@pu.edu.pk

Website: http://pu.edu.pk/

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Punjab University College of Art and Design organizes seminar

Lahore, June 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):Punjab University College of Art and Design (CAD) has organized a seminar and exhibition entitled “6 Decades of Excellence of Eminent Alumnus Dr Shaukat Mahmood” to commemorate Dr Mahmood’s journey of excellence. Vice Chancellor University of Home Economics Prof Dr Kanwal Ameen, CAD Principal Prof Dr Sumera Jawad, faculty members, M Phil scholars and a large number of students were present. The exhibited work is based on selective cartoons of Dr Mahmood and representation of his impression of various people, society, and the predominant circumstances.

The exhibited cartoons have been divided into three genres: Caricatures of Popular Personalities, Awam Ki Halat-E-Zaar and Politics from the Pen. The caricatures are hand drawn while the rest of the cartoons are digital prints that are based on his recent work. The seminar divided into six segments highlighting the distinct facets of Dr Mahmood’s quest over the decades. These segments included his early life, his contribution as a cartoonist, educationist, documentarian, book author and research and news article author. The exhibition and seminar were the part of M Phil scholar’s research project. At the end, Dr Saif Ur Rehman Dar distributed the souvenirs to Dr Shaukat Mahmood and others.

For more information, contact:

Registrar,

University of the Punjab

Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan

Tel: +92-42-99231102

Fax: +92-42-99231103

E-Mail: registrar@pu.edu.pk

Website: http://pu.edu.pk/

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Federation must end GB’s constitutional, political and economic deprivations – HRCP concludes fact-finding mission

Gilgit, June 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has concluded a high-profile fact-finding mission to Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), comprising Council members Salima Hashmi and Muzaffar Hussain, senior journalist Ghazi Salahuddin, and HRCP regional coordinator Israruddin.

During its five-day visit to GB, the mission found that the human rights situation in the region had deteriorated, with political workers, rights activists, the legal fraternity and religious leadership expressing their disappointment at the federation’s failure to integrate GB with the rest of the country. The groups that the mission consulted were of the view that GB should, at the very least, be granted provisional provincial status or, as a last option, granted a governance system similar to that of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The political leadership that met the mission also demanded that GB be made part of the electoral reforms process being undertaken to ensure free and fair elections in this region. In addition, the fact that appointments to the higher judiciary are made by the prime minister puts a question mark over the independence, integrity and impartiality of the GB judiciary, eroding public confidence in the institution.

It is a matter of great concern that freedom of expression and peaceful assembly remain under threat in GB: rights campaigners, political workers and students continue to be charged under anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws, particularly Schedule IV.

Based on the evidence, the mission believes that the abolition of State Subject Rule has paved the way for exploitation of local natural resources by external private corporations and individuals not resident in GB. This has led to demographic changes in the region, to the consternation of residents, who also feel that GB is being excluded from development projects, primarily those being launched under CPEC.

The mission is especially alarmed by the apparent surge in suicide cases in various parts of GB, particularly in district Ghizer. A large number of these victims comprise women and the mission has reason to believe that some cases of honour killings have been labelled suicide and thus ‘forgotten’.

The mission is gravely concerned to learn that the victims of the 2010 Attabad Lake disaster have still not been compensated or rehabilitated. The glacial lake outburst floods that occurred recently on the Shishpar glacier have also uprooted over a dozen families with worrying allegations that a state-owned organisation may have diverted the flow of water towards the village to protect a resort.

During meetings with people affected by the Kargil War, the mission learnt that they had still not been compensated for the loss of their homes and livelihoods. Respondents alleged that the civilian and military authorities continued to shift responsibility onto each other for the redressal of their grievances. The victims also claimed that security forces had laid landmines in their area, preventing them from returning home. A detailed report documenting the mission’s findings and recommendations will be released as soon as possible.

For more information, contact:

Chairperson,

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)

Aiwan-i-Jamhoor, 107-Tipu Block,

New Garden Town, Lahore-54600

Tel: +92-42-35864994

Fax: +92-42-35883582

Email: hrcp@hrcp-web.org

Website: www.hrcp-web.org

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ICC congratulates Mithali Raj for an outstanding career

Dubai, June 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):The International Cricket Council (ICC) has congratulated India ODI captain Mithali Raj for an outstanding 23-year international career during which she broke several records.

The 39-year-old middle-order batter, who announced her retirement from all international cricket on Wednesday, led India in this year’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. She had retired from T20Is in September 2019.

ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said Raj is a hero for cricketers around the world and hoped she would continue to contribute to the game in the years to come.

ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice: “Mithali is one of the all-time greats of the game. Over the past 23 years, many young girls and boys will have been inspired to take up the sport after watching her.

“Mithali has played a huge role in raising the profile of women’s cricket during a crucial period of its growth and I sincerely hope she will stay involved with the game in the coming years. On behalf of the ICC, I congratulate her for a fantastic career.”

Raj, who led India to the finals of the ICC Women’s World Cups in 2005 and 2017, is the only woman, and only the third cricketer ever, to appear at six ICC (50-over) Cricket World Cups.

Raj is the most capped woman player in ODIs and holds the record for most runs in the format, having aggregated 7,805 runs in 232 matches with seven centuries. In Tests, she has scored 699 runs in 12 matches with one century while in T20Is, she has 2,364 runs from 89 matches with 17 half-centuries.

For more information, contact:

Headquarters,

International Cricket Council (ICC)

Street 69, Dubai Sports City,

Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE

Phone: +97-143828800

Fax: +97-143828600

E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com

Website: www.icc-cricket.com