President Asif Ali Zardari highlighted the role of newspapers in strengthening democracy and promoting an enlightened society on Thursday, urging young people to develop the habit of reading newspapers and calling educational establishments to promote it actively.
In his message on National Journal Day, the president granted greetings to readers, journalists, publishers, publishers and other partners in the journalism profession. He also congratulated the Société des newspapers All-Pakistan (APNS) to mark the day each year to encourage the culture of newspaper reading in the country.
President Zardari stressed that informed citizenship constitutes the foundation of a dynamic democracy, allowing people to make better choices not only during the elections but in all aspects of life. He noted that newspapers were historically at the heart of Pakistan’s national discourse, informing citizens, exposing injustices, providing debate platforms and protecting public law, namely. For this invaluable service, he said, generations of journalists deserve respect for the nation.
By reflecting on his personal experience, the president said he learned at the start that the newspapers guarantee a responsible information, the publishers playing a key role in the decision of what is highlighted and what is put aside. However, he regretted that the rise in social media has eroded this editorial function, fueling disinformation and propaganda. This, he noticed, makes the values of responsible journalism carried by newspapers all the more critical today.
“In the digital age of today, where the news often spreads before it is verified, the newspapers remain symbols of confidence,” he said, adding that they provide depth, context and thoughtful analyzes, helping readers to understand not only what happened, but also why it matters.
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President Zardari, while recognizing the serious challenges confronted with the media industry, expressed his optimism that Pakistani newspapers, as many leading publications in the world, have the potential to prosper. He stressed that their survival should not depend on the support of the government or the patronage of affairs, but on the confidence and the loyalty of readers whose right to know that they have been defending for decades.
The president called on young people to cultivate reading habits, urged educational establishments to promote reading newspapers among students and asked printed media to respect the standards of ethics, impartiality and high responsibility.
He stressed that if freedom of the press is essential to democracy, it must always be exercised with truth, balance and equity.
“I hope that the newspaper of newspapers in our country will continue to grow and will help us build a more informed, thoughtful and democratic Pakistan,” concluded the president.
