ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Wednesday said the PML-Ngovernment was proud not to have used censorship or the secret fund tocontrol news content as it fully believes in the freedom of press.

Addressing the 28th Award ceremony of the All Pakistan NewspapersAssociation (APNS) here at the PM Office, the Prime Minister also asked themedia to have a self-regulatory mechanism to ensure greater objectivity andimpartiality in their news content.

Prime Minister Abbasi said in a modern world there was no scope of anycensorship. He said the measure may bring temporary benefits, but suchmeasures were never in the interest of a country in the long run.

“We are proud to state that we never resorted to any such acts, despite theserious challenges that we confronted,” he said and added that a free andfair media was vital for any democracy.

The Prime Minister said his government was also proud of the fact that itdid not use the “secret funds” of the Intelligence Bureau for mediamanipulation as it believes that the right to free expression needs to befulfilled.

He said in the past billions of rupees were doled out from the secret fund,however the PML-N government from day one remained committed that it wouldnot use any coercion against the media and there would be no interference,whatsoever.

“Our government always tried to maintain the freedom of expression at allcosts,” he said and added at the same time it was government’s desire thatthere were more objective and positive reporting about Pakistan. He saidsuccessful completion of the development projects needs to be highlightedso as to have a feel good factor for the masses.

He said his government successfully managed to maintain objectivity in newsand did not link it up to the government advertisements.

Prime Minister Abbasi said like the reforms in all sectors, there was alsoa need to bring about changes in the news industry as well and called foradopting a self-regulatory mechanism, particularly when there was nohistory of claiming any damages due to the defamation caused.

He said there was a need for putting in place a system which equallyaccommodates contradictions of baseless news and allegations leveledagainst anyone.

Abbasi said the Pakistan of 2018 was totally different from the one hisgovernment inherited in 2013 and said the country has achieved significantsuccess in all areas. He said due acknowledgment of the accomplishments ofthe government, particularly in boosting the country’s GDP, enhancinginvestment climate, electricity and gas production, besides tacklingterrorism, need to be given.

In his remarks Hamid Haroon, President APNS appreciated the Prime Ministerfor putting the country back on reigns at a time when it was facingnumerous challenges on different fronts. He was also appreciative of thegovernment for its support to the freedom of expression as enshrined underthe Constitution of the country.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi later distributed awards in differentcategories.