Says govt has no intention to curb media freedom
\n LAHORE
\nPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the government is diligently working on the execution of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Reko Diq projects.
\nThe premier stated this while talking to a delegation of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) in Lahore on Sunday. He reiterated his government\u2019s resolve to religiously follow the CPEC and Reko Diq projects till their completion.
\nHe said as far as our foreign policy was concerned, the government wanted to establish relations with all countries including brotherly Muslim states based on respect and mutual interests.
\nHe expressed his resolve that the government wanted free and transparent elections in the country stressing the need to introduce electoral reforms. He observed that electoral reforms were a must for holding of transparent elections in the country.
\nThe previous government had doubled the country\u2019s debt during the last four years rule which had made the lives of poor miserable, he said, adding that they were making efforts to provide basic necessities of life including flour, health treatment and medicines at subsidized rates.
\nHe regretted that during the previous government\u2019s rule, special arrangements were not made at PKIL like facilities for giving free-of-cost treatment to the poor and deserving patients.
\nThe prime minister stressed upon the solidarity of the nation to resolve the current economic challenges for the welfare of the people and said that holding of march, in this situation, amounted to uncalled for and creation of fissures among the nation.
\nThe prime minister also expressed his resolve to effectively work over the CPEC and Riko Diq projects. He also reaffirmed to maintain ties with all the brotherly nations and other countries on basis of mutual respect and mutual interests.
\nThe premier also informed the CPNE delegation that the government did not have any intention to restrict freedom of press. He assured the editors that journalists would be defended against all the anti-press laws including Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) Ordinance.
\nHe told the delegation that his government had already entrusted the task to review the draconian PECA Ordinance to its law ministry.
\nPraising the CPNE role for the freedom of media, strengthening of democracy, and evolution of democratic institutions in the country, the prime minister said that the government was keen to engage constructively with the CPNE and other media representative bodies for the protection of the rights of journalists and promotion of responsible journalism in the country
\nShehbaz vowed to work with the CPNE for the promotion of journalistic responsibilities and security of journalists in the country On power generation, he vowed that his government would ensure production of electricity and its transmission to consumers in an effective way.
\nHe lamented that the previous government had put unbearable burden of foreign debts on poor people of Pakistan and made essential commodities out of the reach of poor people. He said his government was taking steps to ameliorate the lot of the downtrodden segment of society.
\nHe called upon the nation to show solidarity so that we could be able to fix the tattered economy. The meeting was attended by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Secretary Information Shaheera Shahi, and Principal Information Officer Mubashir Hassan.
\nThe CPNE delegation comprised of its President Kazim Khan, Senior Vice President Ayaz Khan, Punjab Vice President Arshad Ahmad Arif, Secretary General Amir Mehmood and other CPNE office-bearers. =DNA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Says govt has no intention to curb media freedom LAHORE Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the government is diligently working on the execution of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Reko Diq projects. The premier stated this while talking to a delegation of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) in Lahore on Sunday. He […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":259291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[19,5822,6937],"class_list":{"0":"post-259271","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news","8":"tag-cpec","9":"tag-pm-shehbaz-sharif","10":"tag-riko-diq-projects"},"yoast_head":"\n