No restrictions on media, says Azim
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Senator Tariq Azim Khan on Monday said that media in Pakistan is enjoying a complete freedom unparalleled in the history of the country and there is no restriction, censorship on it in the country.
Talking to a 6-member Kazakhstan media delegation, which called on him here, the minister said that there has been a mushroom growth of TV channels and newspapers in the country due to the liberal policies of the government. He, further, said that there was only one television channel in the country five years ago but now there are about 55 channels and more than 100 newspapers in the country.
Tariq Azim said that GDP growth rate had been seven percent during the last six years, which is one of the highest in the region, as a result of which the size of the economy has doubled. He said that per capita income has touched the figure of one thousand dollar which was the highest in the region.
Similarly, the volume of revenue collection has gone up to 300 per cent. Foreign direct investment in 1999 was just 500 million dollar and during the last year it reached to 6.3 billion dollar and during the coming year it is expected to be 10 billion dollar, he added.
He said that the budgetary allocation for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) has gone up by 600 percent, which is six times more than the amount allocated in 1999. The Minister said that all this economic boom was possible only due to continuity and consistency of policies during the last seven years.
About the war on terror, the minister said that Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism and it is fighting the war against terrorism in its own interest. He said that our country was facing the problem of extremism and terrorism and we are committed to flush out terrorists and extremists from our soil.
Members of the delegation appreciated the economic growth and the freedom of press in Pakistan. They stressed upon the need for frequent exchange of delegations to further strengthen the already existing fraternal ties between Kazakhstan and Pakistan.