KARACHI, MUMBAI PRESS CLUB TEAM UP TO DEMAND END TO COMMUNICATIONS, TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
A 14-member delegation of the Press Club of Mumbai was warmly received by members and office bearers of the Karachi Press Club on 23rd November, 2013. The Mumbai journalists are on a 7-day visit to Pakistan at the invitation of the Karachi club. The two journalist organizations had si
gned a Memorandum of Understanding 2 years ago to set up fraternal links, and had released a set of objectives that included improving media communication and exchange of journalists between the two countries. After reviewing the two-year process, the Karachi and Mumbai press club said that while the journalist exchange programme was on course, the governments of the 2 countries had (done) did little to improve media communication and removal of barriers for journalists. In view of this, the 2 organisations have demanded that the following steps be immediately implemented by the 2 governments:
1. The ceiling of allowing only 2 accredited journalists permanent station in the capitals of either country is irrational and restrictive considering the demand for news by the people of both countries. The quota system should be removed and all mainline publications and TV and other digital media should be allowed representatives to be stationed in both New Delhi and Islamabad.
2. The severe travel restrictions imposed on journalists has made comprehensive and truthful reporting impossible, and journalists of both sides should be allowed unrestricted access to all parts of the two countries as long as it is in pursuit of media coverage.
3. The restrictions on distribution of print editions of publications imposed by both countries is archaic and restrictive especially since the internet editions are freely available throughout the globe. Besides improving media communication between both sides, the two press clubs also demanded that travel restrictions and deliberate curbs should be relaxed as soon as possible. These include:
1. Opening of the Indian high commission in important non-capital cities like Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore in Pakistan and Pakistan High Commission branches in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
2. Faster processing of visa applications and encouraging tourism and exchange between the two sides.
3. Automatic grant of visas to categories like medical patients, and those travelling to establish family contact, for education and sporting activities. To speed up the above, the two sides have decided to set up a permanent joint committee that will lobby both governments and bring in senior members of civil society of both Pakistan and India to ensure the widest possible consensus to get both governments to open up increasing people to people contact.
