MRITYUNJAY BOSE
bureaus@sakaaltimes.com
Karachi, November 14, 2011: A 22-member delegation of Press Club, Mumbai was accorded a warm a grand reception on their arrival to Pakistan. On Monday, the delegation from Mumbai landed at the Karachi airport here and accorded a warm welcome with Karamat Ali, the Executive Director of Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research personally present to receive the Indian delegates. Amidst cheers of onlookers, the members of the media delegation were garlanded and welcomed here.
On Tuesday, at the Karachi Press Club, the Mumbai delegation were formally welcomed. The Indian delegation is led by Prakash Akolkar, the Political Editor of Sakal Group, who is the Chairman of Press Club, Mumbai. Veteran journalist Jatin Desai is the chief coordinator and spokesperson of the Indian delegation. This correspondent too is part of the delegation, who would spend seven days in Karachi and Hyderabad in Sindh.
"This is a historic moment for the media fraternity of both the countries. This is just a beginning....many more fruitful exchanges must take place in the times to come," Karachi Press Club Secretary Moosa Kaleem said welcoming the Indian delegation. Several veteran Pakistani journalists, writers, thinkers, political analysts, social activists besides others attended the formal welcome session.
In his e-mail message sent through the Indian delegation, Justice Markandey Katju, Chairman of Press Council of India, said: " The media in Pakistan is playing a historical role. Despite all its difficulties, the Pakistan media by and large is honourably discharging its duty to society. The Pakistan media has made great sacrifices in the face of the bigoted and fanatical elements who want to drag society back into the dark middle ages. With great difficulties and sacrifices of our people, our sub continent has partially emerged from the feudal age. There are reactionary elements in both India and Pakistan who want our society to be thrown back into the dark, feudal age. It is the duty of all persons who want our people to prosper and get a life of dignity ( i.e. getting proper food, employment, medical care, housing, education, etc ) to oppose this reactionary trend."
During the visit, the team is put up at Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, popularly known as PILER-Karachi. During the visit, the delegation would attend a round table discussion on role of SAARC in bringing South Asian people closer. The team would be hosted by several politicians including the Governor and Chief Minister of Sindh. The team would visit the offices and facilities of media houses, viz, Jang Group of Newspapers, The News, Geo TV, Awami Awaz, Daily Business Recorder and The Dawn. The team would also be visiting the office of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The journalists will also tour Karachi Univeristy, newspaper, the National Museum and Mohatta Palace. The team would also get some time for sight seeing.
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