Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Monday that the government believed in freedom of expression and it did not intend to impose curbs on media.

Addressing a press conference at Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Headquarters here, she said, "The PPP led-government believes in the freedom of expression and media and wants to strengthen and empower it. It has no intention to curb media freedom."

She said that the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) wanted to see media becoming an institution. "Our ideology does not support any restriction on freedom of expression as we have sacrificed for it."

The government has the credit of lifting restrictions on media imposed by the previous dictatorial regime, she observed. The Information Minister said the PEMRA had always framed laws to facilitate media rather than imposing restrictions on it.

She said the government was constantly consulting the stakeholders and considered their suggestions before formulating any policy, law or regulation.

There is not a single clause in the proposed Content Regulations that may be presumed anti-media, she added.

Dr Firdous said that since all the stakeholders were consulted while framing rules and regulations then how it could be assumed that the government was contemplating to muzzle the media.

She said the government representatives, members of National Assembly and Senate committees, Council of Complaints and other stakeholders had jointly proposed and drafted the Content Regulation. "It does not mean that the proposed draft will be finalized without the consultation of other stakeholders. No clause will be included in it without their consensus ," she said.

The minister said the proposed draft would be shared with the civil society, the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and the general public, which would also be displayed on PEMRA website for suggestions and recommendations.

The minister said the PBA would send back the proposed draft to the PEMRA within two weeks.

The PEMRA had formulated a code of conduct in 2002 when there was no private channel operating; she said and added that there was an urgent need to draft the Content Regulations, keeping in view the present requirements.

Presently around 89 channels and 26 foreign channels are operating from Pakistan.

She said the Ministry of Information was acting as a bridge between the media and the PEMRA.

The minister said all institutions in the country were working under some rules and regulations and the media also needed an efficient code of conduct for its smooth functioning.

She highlighted the importance of a responsible and free media for strengthening democracy and stability in the country. "We want that the country's interests should be kept supreme."

Dr Firdous said, "No programme shall be aired that contains derogatory remarks about any religion or sect or community or uses visuals or words contemptuous of religious sects and ethnic groups or which promotes communal or sectarian attitudes or disharmony."

Any personal information of an individual shall not be revealed without prior written permission from the person, the minister said.