Friday August 11, 2006

Access to information ordinance promulgated

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on Thursday promulgated the Sindh Freedom of Information Ordinance to ensure transparency and openness in the functioning of government departments. The new law is aimed at extending freedom of information to ensure that citizens of the province have improved access to pubic record.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/08/11/local1.htm

Citizens to have increased access to public records

Governor promulgates Freedom of Information Ordinance

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan on Thursday promulgated the ‘Sindh Freedom of Information Ordinance 2006'.  This ordinance has been promulgated a second time and it will come into force immediately. It aims to create transparency and openness in the functioning of the government and to check corruption and misuse of power.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=19429

Pakistan releases Afghan Sikh journalist

Pakistan apologizes for mistreatment of journalist arrested on Pakistan-Afghanistan border

Pakistan has released an Afghan Sikh journalist who was arrested on the Pakistan-Afghan border and tortured on charges of being an Indian national, and also apologized over the 'mistreatment'. Spokesperson of the Radio and Television of Afghanistan, Anwar Wafadar Samandar, informed media persons in Kabul Wednesday that Pakistan had expressed its apology over the arrest of Dayal Singh Ganjana.

www.asiamedia.ucla.edu

24 TSNM activists arrested for TV bonfire

Police arrested 24 activists of a banned religious organisation, Tehrik-e-Nifaz Shariah Muhammade (TNSM), for setting TVs, CDs, and VCDs on fire during their campaign against obscenity and vulgarity in Manglawara and Charbagh. Interior Minster Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told reporters in Islamabad that the government would take stern action against people involved in the incident.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\08\11\story_11-8-2006_pg7_22

Cinemas exempted from entertainment duty

The Punjab government has exempted all cinema houses for screening or exhibition of movies from the payment of the entertainment duty for three years from July 1. Previously, the Punjab government had already granted the exemption from payment of entertainment duty from July 1, 2004.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/august-2006/11/localnews2.php

Awards for environment journalists launched

Reuters Foundation and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) launched Thursday the 2006 Media Awards, a worldwide competition, aimed at raising global awareness of environmental and sustainable development issues, by encouraging excellence in environmental reporting worldwide.
http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=53639&catid=17

Judicious use of media stressed

Speakers on Thursday workshop stressed the need for strategic use of both electronic and print media in order to strengthen the roots of cultural norms both within and outside the country. The media experts and social scientists expressed these views while addressing a workshop on “Dynamics of electronic media,” organised by Muhammad Ali Jinnah University (MAJU). 
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/august-2006/11/nationalnews2.php

Article:

Civil activism, media and the judiciary

Some things are beginning to change in this country. Greater activism is visible now among non governmental groups and the media whether the concern is the environment or human rights or the political direction of the country. The Lahore Bachao Tehreek with the help of the media has done a fantastic job in raising public awareness against the cutting of trees on the Lahore Canal . It has given the government a pause and some efforts are afoot to have another look at the plan and satisfy the stakeholders.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=19392

Yellow Journalism & Democracy By Irfan Siddiqui

Daily Nawa-e-Waqat, Page-2

Problems for press freedom in Pakistan By Irshad Ahmed Haqani ,

Daily Jang, Editorial Page

SOURCES :

The News: http://jang.com.pk/thenews/

The Nation: http://www.nation.com.pk/

Daily Times: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/

The Dawn: http://www.dawn.com

Spider: www.spider.tm

BBC South Asia : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/

Herald: http://dawn.com/herald/

Aurora : www.aurora@dawn.com

The Economist: www.economist.com

IFEX: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/158/

Jang: http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/

Nawa-i-waqt: http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk

Khabrain: http://www.khabrain.com

Daily Development News: http://asp.isb.sdnpk.org/

The Post: http://www.thepost.com.pk/

Business Recorder: http://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org

Asia Media: www.asiamedia.ucla.edu

PEMRA: www.pemra.gov.pk

States Man: http://www.statesman.com.pk

Frontier Post: www. frontierpost .com.pk

Compiled by , Sajid Gondal Media Monitor, Internews Pakistan .

DISCLAIMER: The contents, including news and headlines, in this newsletter are reproduced from their respective publications ad verbatim as a public service to media observers. Internews does not author the contents and these, therefore, do not necessarily reflect organizational policy.  

Updated at 11:00 PST (06:00 GMT)