Wagah (Amritsar), January 2
The 11-member delegation of Editors and senior journalists from leading English, regional dailies and magazines left for Pakistan from the Indo-Pak joint check post at 12.30 pm here today. They were accorded warm welcome by members of Pakistan chapter of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) after
crossing the zero line.
The delegation will cover the proceedings of SAARC summit at Islamabad in addition to attending the four-day SAFMA conference scheduled to be held from January 3 at Rawalpindi.
The delegation included Mr H.K. Dua, Editor-in-Chief, The
Tribune; Mr K.K. Katyal, former Associate Editor, The Hindu, and
president, SAFMA, Indian chapter; Mr Prabodh Jamwal, Editor of Kashmir
Times; Mr Sushant Sareen, Editor, Pot magazine; Mr M.K. Dhar, Consulting Editor,
NPA; Mr Satnam Manak, Assistant Editor, Ajit; and vice-president, SAFMA; Mr Vinod Sharma, Bureau Chief, Hindustan
Times; Mr Sanjeev Acharya of Outlook; Mr P.L. Uniyal, Secretary-General, Press Club, and India Special Correspondent, Dainik Kashmir Times; and noted columnist Mr Praful Bidwai.
The proposed SAFMA conference will include the role of journalists in highlighting human rights violations, means of terrorism and other contentious issues that can help smoothen relationships, boost trade, ensure lasting peace in the region.
The delegation will also hold a meeting on January 7 with Pakistan’s artists, singers, directors and others in the cultural field on the invitation of Hindi-Pak Dosti Manch.
Mr Rafaqat Ali, son of famous pre-Partition
Sufi singer, Mr Nazaqat Ali, of the noted Salamat Ali-Nazaqat Ali duo will perform in India for the first time in Amritsar, Delhi, Mumbai, Jalandhar and Sham Churasi from January 13.
The
vice-president of SAFMA, Mr Manak, said the launching of the Punjab chapter of SAFMA at par with Pakistan's
"Punjab" chapter would be discussed at the media meet. The two Punjabs, having personal media chapters, would facilitate more interaction between journalists which in the present context of Indo-Pak thaw had been insignificant.
He said the Indian chapter had extended invitation of Mr Imtiaz Alam secretary-general, SAFMA, Pakistan, to India to work out the modalities to start the Punjab chapter as well as form an additional format for better understanding, interaction, sharing and participation of journalists from each others nation.
