Islamabad (Web Desk/Agencies): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Monday announced that the government would mark its first anniversary on February 8, 2025, as a day to celebrate "Development and Progress."
Reflecting on the achievements of the government, he pointed out that significant milestones had been reached in areas such as economic growth, which would be highlighted during the celebration.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to celebrate the February 8 as the Youm-e-Tameer o Taraqi because this year, we have achieved many milestones including the economic growth,” the minister said.
He congratulated Khyber TV for emerging victorious in the final and also praised the Jang Media Group for securing second place.
Tarar stressed the value of such sporting events, which foster healthy competition and camaraderie, and assured media organizations of full support from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in organizing future events that spread positive messages across the nation.
The government’s dedication to sports was a key theme in Tarar's comments, noting that the continuous successes of the national cricket team were a testament to the administration's focus on nurturing talent.
He revealed plans for Pakistan to host the International Champions Trophy, an event that would reinvigorate the country’s cricket scene and provide local fans the opportunity to watch international players compete on Pakistani soil.
He also commended Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his efforts in securing the tournament for Pakistan, acknowledging the key role played by the prime minister in empowering his team to make this happen.
Speaking about his government’s broader accomplishments, the minister reminded the public of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which had been hosted in Pakistan for the first time in 27 years, as well as the government's initiatives to strengthen the economy, which had helped restore confidence among international institutions.
Tarar confirmed that, as part of the anniversary celebrations, awards would be given to individuals who had excelled in various fields over the past year.
In the realm of media, Tarar assured that financial constraints would not hinder the revival of PTV’s former prominence.
He highlighted that new anchors from the private sector had been brought on board and that political diversity would be encouraged in television discussions, with representatives from all parties invited to participate in talk shows.
The minister underscored the importance of fostering negotiations to ensure political stability, expressing optimism that these efforts would yield positive results in the future.