(Siasat News) South India consortium for inter departmental water resources studies conducted a panel discussion yesterday at Hotel Awaas at Madhapur on the Regional cooperation and the role of Media. Mr. Nag, local Editor at Hyderabad represented Times of India whereas Mr. Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, Managing Editor represented Siasat. Mr. Abid Silery of Development Policy Institute of Pakistan and Ms. Arvind Sarla of Nalsar Law University of Hyderabad termed this discussion as moderate. The agenda of the final discussion was regional cooperation and the role of media.
Participating in the panel discussion, Mr. Zaheeruddin Ali Khan told that the T.V. Channels in India and Pakistan are working for improving their TRPs even if they are wrong. He told that we he visited Pakistan the people express their love and the business had offered additional discounts because he had come from India. He further told that why are we spending more than 400 crore on defense. We should encourage public contacts. During his visit in Pakistan, people asked him whether he can offer his prayers freely. Such misunderstanding should be remove.
Ms. Asma Shirazi told that the headlines of Pakistani Newpapers are full of Bollywood stories. She admitted that the Law and Order situation in Pakistan is very bad. However the people of Pakistan are more against America than the Indians. She told that India media is irresponsible. It is adopting anti-Pakistan attitude, keeping in view of general election of 2014, whereas it is no so in Pakistan. She further told that in facts both the countries have anti-Hafiz Sayeed status. She also told that the drone attacks by America on Pakistan are a complicated problem but America and Western Media do not report it. She hoped that India can extend her help in resolving Taliban issue in Pakistan. In solving borders dispute India’s help in required since India is over elder brother. She condemned the attack on church in Pakistan. In order to promote better relations between India and Pakistan, Indian anchors should hold meeting in Pakistan and Pakistani anchors should also conducted such meetings in India. Social media should be used in the right direction to promote mutual relations.
Participating in the panel discussion Mr. Nag, local editor of TOI, Hyderabad told that the people of Pakistan are welcomed by Indians whole heartedly here. There is a need to reduce anti-Pakistani feelings. He said that the China is a major problem. Mr. Abid told that the misunderstandings created by the media should be removed. He further told that both the countries can resolved the issues of Girls education, development and other problems by instituting a common platform.
——–Siasat News