Roundtable on SDGs: Parliament, media have critical roles to play, says minister

ISLAMABAD: Parliament and media have to play important roles to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Thursday.

The state minister stressed the need for a more effective media role in oversight and implementation of social sector projects. She was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of a two-day National Roundtable on SDGs for Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) in Islamabad.

The minister said that the targets set in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) could not be achieved as parliament and media could not play any constructive role in creation of awareness among the masses.

Marriyum said that objective of the course is to guide the media persons about the SDGs importance.

Under the GSP Plus, she said, journalists would be provided training and added she has also talked to European Union ambassadors for capacity building of media professionals.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2016.