Media delegation from Pak arrives on a week-long visit

A 14-member media delegation from Pakistan was accorded a warm traditional welcome on their arrival in Mumbai on Monday for a week-long study trip.

They were welcomed at Chhatrapati Shivaji international airport by members of the Mumbai Press Club in a traditional ritual by offering 'arti', garlands and playing of Tutari (musical instrument of Maharashtra).

The delegation leader and president of Karachi Press Club, Tahir Hasan Khan said, "We are extremely happy to be in India. I am sure this joint endeavour by Karachi and Mumbai Press Clubs would further improve relations between India and Pakistan and also strengthen people-to-people contacts with neighbours".

Welcoming the delegates, Gurbir Singh, president of Press Club, said "The purpose of the visit is to promote a philosophy of understanding and tolerance between the two countries by increasing and improving the quality of media content when reporting on each other's country and bilateral issues. This is expected to give a boost to the peace process between India and Pakistan."

The delegation represents leading newspapers and channels like 'Dawn', 'The News', 'Jang Geo TV', 'ARY News', 'Express TV', etc and are members of Karachi and Hyderabad Press Clubs. Most of them are visiting India for the first time.

The Journalists of Pakistan have been invited by the Mumbai Press Club as a reciprocal to Karachi Press Club and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research jointly hosting Mumbai Media delegation in November last.

The visitors from Pakistan will have interaction with leaders of various political parties in Mumbai, industry leaders, journalists, social activists and common people.

They are scheduled to visit Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Home Minister R R Patil. The delegation is also slated to visit Bombay Stock Exchange as well as couple of newspaper and news channels offices.