KARACHI:
The media is considered a watchdog in any democratic country. We must praise the evolution of Pakistani media since the independence of the country. The development of electronic media began as early as August 1947. At that time, Pakistan had three radio stations — in Dhaka, Lahore and Peshawar. Several new stations had opened in Karachi and Rawalpindi by 1948. And by 1950, there was a new broadcasting house in Karachi. Currently, Pakistan has a large number of print and electronic media houses. There are approximately 952 newspapers that cater to the public in Urdu, English, Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi and Pashto languages. Besides, there are dozens of private TV news channels, apart from the state-run PTV.
Media has played a promising role in highlighting socio-culture issues in the country. It has drawn attention towards several important issues including poverty, inflation, unemployment, illiteracy, corruption, crimes, etc. By informing people of a variety of social issues, the media enhances public knowledge. It has initiated and reshaped discourse about prevalent issues in the country.
I request the authorities to ensure the freedom of the media and allow it to work without any restrictions. Pakistan has gained a reputation for being one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. To alleviate this, the government should ensure the safety and protection of journalists and reporters across the country.
Shama Rahim
Turbat
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2021.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
