BEIJING: Pakistan and China here Monday agreed in principle for setting up Media University in Islamabad. The consensus in this regard was reached when Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan held a detailed discussion with Chinese-Minister for Education. Both sides discussed the proposed MoU for establishing the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Institute for Media Sciences. This will be the first phase towards establishment of the University To expedite the process to finalize the MoU, both side appointed focal persons at the meeting.The Information Minister was informed that China is ready to offer maximum number of scholarship to the students of Mass Communications and Media professionals for Ph D courses.
Dr. Awan informed the chinese minister that there are 80 private TV channels functioning in Pakistan.Over five thousand staff are engaged working in these channels in various capacity, she said adding that most of these staff before joining their new assignments were working in print media, therefore they lack exposure of electronic media.Dr. Awan said that her ministry has chalked out a comprehensive programme for their capacity building by holding various courses.The minister said that at her meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Chen in Urumqi during China-Eurasia Forum there was the consensus to have a uniform media policy for the benefit of the regional countries.
The Minister said that setting up Media University will be a great beneficial for the Pakistan.The Information Minister said that with the establishment of Media University professional youths in Pakistan would be able to get maximum job opportunities.The Chinese Education Minisiter while appreciating the efforts of Dr. Awan for establishment of Media university said that his government always encouraged Pakistan in various fields and after consultations with the concerned departments the project would be implemented.He on the occasion informed the Minister that there was only one communications university in private sector working in China. – APP
