Managing Director of the Islamic Republic News Agency Zia Hashemi says the main role of media in the Muslim world including Iran and Pakistan is forging unity and solidarity among Muslim communities.
The IRNA Chief made the remark in a one-hour meeting with Pakistani media delegation on Tuesday, also attended by some IRNA directors.
Referring to efforts of certain foreign media, including Western ones, to present a harsh image of Islam and launch Islamphobia and divide Muslim nations, Hashemi said Muslim world media, including those in Iran and Pakistan, play an undeniable role to foil such conspiracies and plots.
'The media of the two countries are expected to reflect realities as they are so as to give Iranian and Pakistani people a clearer image of each other. To do this, they should avoid referring to foreign media and resources.'
Meanwhile, the Pakistani media delegation said in the meeting the time has come to end differences among Muslim communities through dialogue and asked IRNA chief to comment on the issue.
Hashemi said, 'Even tomorrow is late for dialogue among countries and Muslim communities; we believe dialogue should start from today to end tensions and discord of Muslim Ummah.'
He said extremism and violence have inflicted considerble damage on Muslim world and under such conditions, one of the duties and main missions of the media of the world of Islam is moving towards confronting violence, extremism and presenting the true image of Islam to the world people.
The Pakistani delegation members said Pakistanis are interested in Iran and Iranians and urged the media of both countries to play a more effective role to further consolidate friendship bonds of the nations of the two neighbors.
The Pakistani media persons said IRNA office in Islamabad should be regarded as a suitable chance to expand media cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad, while asking IRNA to be present in various Pakistani provinces to present more comprehensive information on events and developments of the country.
Hashemi further said that IRNA news and other news products are published in nine languages, including Urdu.
He said IRNA news is published in Urdu as it considers a great status for the language and the speakers.
'Pakistani media, especially the official news agency of the country, are suggested to set up Farsi news section so as to present abundant beauties and the true picture of Pakistan and immense resources of the country to Iranians.'
The two sides underlined the need for efforts of the media of the two countries to introduce a better and clearer picture of Iran and Pakistan to people of the two countries.
The two sides in the meeting emphasized growing exchange of media delegations by Iran and Pakistan.
Hashemi said Iran is determined to expand ties with Islamabad in all areas, while referring to the visit of Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Islamabad and his meetings with senior government and military officials of Pakistan, saying it will serve as a giant step towards expansion of cordial ties between the two nations.
A Pakistani media delegation arrived in Tehran on Monday for a one-week visit.
- (IRNA)
