Newspaper owners asked to rethink reducing print editions

The four-day 17th Aalmi (International) Urdu Conference organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, came to an end on Sunday. At the conclusion of the event, 10 resolutions were presented and unanimously approved by the delegates attending from various cities across Pakistan and the rest of the world.

These resolutions are addressed to the federal and provincial governments, as well as individuals and institutions responsible for promoting knowledge, literature, education and culture in accordance with their constitutional and societal responsibilities. “Similar to last year, this conference takes place amid global focus on the devastation in

Gaza, the call for Palestine’s liberation and the condemnation of Israeli atrocities,” states the first resolution.

“Once again, we express solidarity with the people of Palestine. Our writers and poets have historically, and particularly over the past year, created significant literary works on this subject. We reaffirm our intellectual and emotional support for the Palestinian people, especially their writers.” In the second resolution they reaffirmed their support for Kashmir’s right to self-determination. “The Arts Council previously held a conference in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, with enthusiastic participation from local writers,” states the resolution.

“This was intended to send a strong message that all Pakistani writers consider this right fundamental, and stand in solidarity with the people of Kashmir.”

In the third resolution the conference applauded the expansion of the Arts Council’s activities in recent years, including the establishment of the Pakistan Literature Festival, held in cities such as Lahore, Azad Kashmir, Sukkur and Quetta.

“These festivals have consistently grown in scale and participation. The Arts Council’s cultural initiatives, including global cultural festivals, theatre events and youth programmes, have established it as Pakistan’s leading cultural institution.”

In the fourth resolution the Arts Council emphasised engaging youth, who make up 60 per cent of Pakistan’s population, in its activities. They stressed the importance of fostering cultural development alongside academic education.

“Despite facing challenges like extremist influences and outdated curricula, Pakistan’s youth exhibit immense creative potential. Events organised by the Arts Council have demonstrated their enthusiasm for cultural engagement nationwide, showcasing culture as a powerful tool against societal ills.”

In the fifth resolution they urged the federal and provincial governments to fulfil their constitutional responsibility to strengthen interprovincial cultural ties. “Ministries overseeing interprovincial relations must actively promote cultural exchanges, enabling citizens, particularly the youth, to experience the diversity of other provinces.”

In the sixth resolution they asked every Pakistani student to learn their mother tongue and an additional language during their schooling, along with gaining familiarity with its literature.

In the seventh resolution they pointed out that Pakistan’s languages are invaluable cultural assets. “The government must ensure their preservation and promotion through concrete policies. National unity can only be achieved by embracing diversity, rather than imposing uniformity.”

In the eighth resolution they called for measures to promote books, magazines and journals. “The devaluation of the Pakistani rupee has made importing books prohibitively expensive. The government must introduce subsidised schemes to facilitate book imports.”

In the ninth resolution they stressed that the longstanding excuse of costly paper imports must end. “The establishment of paper mills and affordable production of publishing materials should be prioritised to support the publishing industry.”

In the final resolution they emphasised upon newspaper owners to rethink reducing print editions citing the rise of digital formats. “Global examples show that creatively curated print editions with fewer but impactful stories remain popular.”

They urged owners of Pakistani newspaper to enhance and preserve print journalism in order to address reader satisfaction and prevent job losses in the media industry. At the conclusion of the session, the participants raised their hands to approve these resolutions unanimously.