The United Nations in Pakistan commemorates the 20th anniversary of the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) in 2013. The WPFD was commemorated at two events, held separately in Islamabad and Karachi.
Freedom of expression, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is essential for empowering individuals and building free and democratic societies. A fundamental right on its own, freedom of expression also provides the conditions for protecting and promoting all other human rights.
Within the overall context of press freedom, WPFD 2013 aims to rally international action to protect the safety of every journalist in every country and to break the vicious circle of impunity and to focus on the theme of “Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media” and puts the spotlight in particular on the issues of safety of journalists, combating impunity for crimes against freedom of expression, and securing a free and open Internet as the precondition for safety online.
Director UNESCO, Ms.Kozue Kay Nagata in her opening remarks, at a seminar held by the United Nations at Islamabad appreciated the professionalism of the journalists in Pakistan, who are working in extremely challenging situations. She said that “we support this Day to emphasize the importance of freedom of expression and free flow of diversified opinions because Media – old and new, print or broadcasting, text-based or visual – have an increasingly important power to boost dynamic and positive change, positive social transformation in the country.”
Timo Pakkala, UN Resident Coordinator said the UN system is strongly committed to coordinating action, raising awareness and supporting Pakistan in upholding international principles and developing legislation for freedom of expression and information. We work closely with all member states of the United Nations and their citizens to strengthen safeguards for freedom of expression and press freedom.
In the event held at Karachi Press Club, Kazi Ayaz Mahessar, UNESCO’s Provincial Coordinator in Sindh, emphasized the importance and critical role of journalists in the positive social transformation in a given country. He said that, “freedom of expression is a global issue. In many countries journalism is a dangerous profession, and more so in Pakistan. In Pakistan, 7 journalists are killed per year, making Pakistan for the past few consecutive years the deadliest country in world for press freedom.”
One major development in this international co-operation on press freedom is the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which was endorsed last year by the chief executives of all component UN bodies. Securing the safety of journalists continues to be a challenge due to an upward trend in the killings of journalists, media workers, and social media producers.
Agha Masood, a senior journalist, stressed upon the codes of conduct and ethics in media houses. He said that the freedon of expression was particularly targeted and voice of journalists was silenced during the Martial Law regimes and the practice had been continued in democratic regimes as well. He demanded concerted efforts for the security of journalists.
The Chief Guest of the event, Professor Dr. Tahir Masood, Chairman Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi, highlighted in his speech the negative prevalence of differential treatment of journalists by the media houses. He said that with these biases, prevalent in system, freedom of expression will be continued to be suppressed.
Among other speakers were; Ms. Shanaz Ramzi, Ms. Abida Ferheen, Mir Mubashar and others.
Concluding remarks were given by Imran Zakir of Daes Television Pakistan on Freedom of Press in reference to TV Cable broadcast in Pakistan, which is subject to limited revenue income, regulation, obsolete high cost of cable overhead passing thru the utility poles for Cables which reaches homes for TV content regulated by PEMRA. He further elaborated the new technology in reference to Cable network will now deliver VOD (Video on Demand) Pay Per View and other value added segment to all cable operators being a source of premium content shows. The cable operator will be paid for the premium content separately from the regular subscription. The system is under testing in the UN network and will be put to Beta testing once the testing is completed.