Seminar discusses role media can play in promoting tolerance

KARACHI: A seminar, titled “Tolerant Pakistan” discussed what role media can play in shunning extremism from the country and promote tolerance.

The session, held in Karachi’s Movenpick hotel on Saturday, was moderated by Dr. Tabassum Khan, Chairman SG Group of Companies.

The panel, comprising of the Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Mr Stefano Pontecorvo, former foreign secretary Mr Najmuddin Sheikh, Broadcast Journalist Najia Ashar and Syed Sarmad Ali, Secretary General of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), spoke at length about the challenges media faces in the country’s fight against extremism, intolerance, at a time when social media has become a decisive force in building narratives that might be harmful for the society.

The Italian ambassador stressed on the need to bring about harmony as global citizens.
Mr Sarmad spoke at length about Pakistani society and the role of the media in reforming the society.

He spoke about the various phases that print and electronic media went through over the years in Pakistan.

Najia Ashar recounted how she, as a broadcast journalist, had seen the horrors of extremism as she covered bomb blasts and terror activities. She spoke at length about the need for media to report positive news more in order to portray a soft image of Pakistan now that peace has been restored.

She was of the view that reporting cultural activities of different communities and giving them space in the mainstream media too can do the trick.

Mr Najmuddin Sheikh shared his invaluable experience as a former foreign secretary and the policies needed to bring about peace in the country.

After the guests had shared their thoughts, the audience was invited to ask questions.

An interactive Q & A session was held during which the panel took question from members of the audience.

Answering a question about social media promoting dangerous trends and whether there is a need to regulate it, Tabassum Khan said that while using social media, one is not only a consumer but a content-creator too, so it is the individual’s responsibility to create, share or like the content he thinks is good for the society at large and

The seminar was organised by Positive Media Communications (PMC).