Pakistan, Iran Vow to Cement Bilateral Media Ties
By Sarah Kamal 'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran Wednesday agreed to cement bilateral media ties including the exchange of media delegations, films, drama, and news gathering service.

"Strong media linkages are the best tool to foster people-to-people contacts between nations. Pakistan is willing to foster its media ties with Iran which are need of the hour.

The exchange of media, films, drama and media exchange and its distribution can bridge the gap between the two nations and would help boost people-to-people contacts," said Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani while talking to his Iranian counterpart, Muhammad Hussein Saffar Harandi who called on him at his residence.

Iranian Ambassador to Islamabad MashaAllah Shakeri, Commercial Attache, Ahmad Karimi and officials of the embassy were also present. Director General External Publicity Wing, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Sohail Mansoor and DGMO Shabir Anwer assisted the Minister during the meeting.

Muhammad Ali Durrani said that Pakistan and Iran are brotherly states which share historic, religious, cultural and brotherly relations since decades. He said both the nations had time-tested relations not only at the government-level and people to people.

He said there was a dire need to pass on these historic traditions to the future generations. He said expansion of bilateral media ties is need of the hour as the media can play a vital role in fostering historic and brotherly ties between the two nations.

The Minister said bilateral visits of media delegations and exchange of news and its distribution are important in this regard.

"There are around 50 television channels operating in Pakistan. The mushroom growth of electronic media in Pakistan has developed a vacuum of trained and skilled journalists. Pakistan is launching its first media university in October this year to fulfill this vacuum. Keeping in view the modern trends, there is a dire need for both the brotherly states to collaborate in the electronic and print media," he said.

"The government and people of Pakistan wish progress and prosperity of our Iranian brethren. The Ministry of Information is willing to cooperate and collaborate with Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (Information Ministry)," he said.

Iranian Minister for Culture and Islamic Guidance (Information Ministry), Muhammad Hussein Saffar Harandi extended invitation to Minister Durrani to visit Iran which was accepted with gratitude. He said Iran would welcome the exchange of media delegations, drama and films with Pakistani media as it would bring the upcoming generations of both the countries together.

He said the commonalities between the peoples of both the nations make media relations stronger and dynamic. He said a delegation of Iranian journalists would soon visit Pakistan. He said the bilateral exchange of media delegations can better the mutual cooperation and collaboration.●