ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Prof. Ahsan
Iqbal Thursday said the alternative media tools should be used for
promoting progressive national agenda instead of using it for spreading
negative ideas among the people.

He was addressing the concluding
session of a two-day International Conference on ‘Alternative Media in
Pakistan-Opportunities and Challenges’ organized by Heinrich Boell
Stiftung (HBS) and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here.

Ahsan
Iqbal said the age of internet has brought about a change in the world
of media. He said the media is now transforming from conventional media
to more interactive and dynamic media which has made common citizens
more powerful as they can give their own point of views instantly
without any pressure.

He said the alternative media should play its role in engaging the citizens in development issues like education, health etc.

The Minister said the government is committed to build electronic media platform.

In
this regard, he said the government is working hard to carry out 3-G
technology licensing as early as possible which will help more than 70
percent people of the country who have access to cellular mobile phones
to participate in the alternative social media with more effective way.

Ahsan
Iqbal also called upon the civil society to play its role of regulators
on the conventional electronic and print media and force them to
highlight positive news more often than the negative news.

Earlier
the speakers in their presentations recommended that the social media
and social networking forums are effective means through which we can
try to correct the faulty conspiracy theorist mindset of people who
believe the West and all international monetary organizations are out to
destroy our country Pakistan.

Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, an analyst
described how he uses simple tools to record at least two documentaries,
videos per week containing positive messages and enlightening
information for the public

The government and other public and
private institutions should facilitate, encourage, and provide trainings
to educationists and members of the academia in how to record simple
homemade videos, documentaries containing positive messages that dispel
negative notions of conspiracy theories, paranoia and delusion, and how
to effectively upload them on social networking forums like Facebook and
Twitter with an aim to achieve widespread reach and accessibility", he
added.

The government should take steps to eliminate censorship
and it should promote freedom of expression and open up alternative
avenues of positive and constructive argument and debate on the
Internet.