President Asif Ali Zardari stressed the role of newspapers in strengthening democracy and promoting a society informed on Thursday, urging young people to develop the habit of reading newspapers and asking educational institutions to actively promote it.
In his message about the National Day of the Readers of the newspapers, the president extended greetings to readers, journalists, editors, editors and others associated with the profession of journalism. He also praised All-Pakistan Newspapers (APNS) society for annually marking the day to encourage the culture of reading newspapers in the country.
President Zardari emphasized that an informed citizenship forms the basis of a vibrant democracy, which allows people to make better decisions not only during elections but in all aspects of life. He pointed out that newspapers have historically been central to Pakistan’s national discourse, informing citizens, exposing injustices, providing debate platforms and safeguarding the public’s right to know. For this invaluable service, he said, generations of journalists deserve the respect of the nation.
When reflecting on his personal experience, the president said he learned early that the newspapers guarantee a responsible information flow, with the editors who play a key role in the decision of what stands out and what is neglected. However, he regretted that the emergence of social networks has eroded this editorial function, feeding misinformation and propaganda. This, he said, makes the values of responsible journalism carried out by the newspapers even more critical today.
“In the current digital era, where the news is often extended before verifying, newspapers remain confidence symbols,” he said, added that they provide depth, context and reflective analysis, helping readers to understand not only what happened, but also why it matters.
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President Zardari, although he recognizes the serious challenges facing the printed media industry, expressed the optimism that Pakistani newspapers, such as many leading publications worldwide, have the potential to prosper. He stressed that his survival should not depend on the support of the government or business sponsorship, but on the trust and loyalty of readers whose right to know that they have defended for decades.
The president asked young people to cultivate reading habits, urged educational institutions to promote newspaper reading among students and asked the print media to maintain high standards of ethics, impartiality and responsibility.
He emphasized that although freedom of the press is essential for democracy, it must always be exercised with truth, balance and justice.
“I hope that newspapers readers in our country continue to grow and help us build a more informed, reflective and democratic Pakistan,” concluded the president.
