ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that we are commemorating World Press Freedom Day on Friday to affirm our commitment to cultivating an environment where the media is independent and diverse and enjoys freedoms with responsibility as enshrined in our Constitution.
In his message on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the president said that this day provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the state of press freedom in our Country and make efforts to create a safe and conducive working environment for journalists.
“We believe that an independent press is essential for highlighting issues of global importance, dispelling fake news and myths, and serving as a watchdog for society,” he said.
The president maintained that media also has a crucial role in creating awareness about issues of global concern, including climate change, green technologies, pollution, and global warming.
The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the environmental crisis” underscores the importance of a free press in creating awareness and educating the people about climate change and its impacts on human life and the environment.
“We believe that the media can play its role in encouraging people to protect the environment by promoting forestation, adopting clean technologies, reducing carbon emissions, and protecting biodiversity to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on our ecosystem,” President Zardari said.
The theme also highlights that a free and responsible press should act as a bulwark against misleading information about climate change.
Moreover, World Press Freedom Day also serves as a reminder that journalists, throughout the world, are facing challenges in doing their jobs.
President Zardari said that “We need to provide an enabling environment free of intimidation or harassment to journalists so that they can freely express their opinions.”
“It is, therefore, imperative to initiate measures for the safety and security of journalists enabling them to freely report on important issues, without fear,” he added.
The president said that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the freedom of the press; however, it is also the responsibility of the media to abide by journalistic ethics and report responsibly and accurately, keeping in view the national interest.
“The media should play its role in countering fake news and promoting moral and ethical values,” he said.
Moreover, he said that today, we also recognize the commendable role played by the media in promoting democratic values in the world as well as raising awareness about issues of social and economic significance, especially climate change and global warming.
“I am hopeful that the media would continue to contribute constructively in raising awareness about issues of global concern,” President Zardari said.
“I am sure that media advocacy of these issues would spur international action to save our planet from the threat of climate change,” he added.
