LAHORE: (Wednesday, June 12, 2024): Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood has said that everyone including journalists, politicians, and bureaucrats should work together for greater interest of Pakistan. He was addressing a special ceremony organized by PU School of Communication Studies’ departments and alumni office to pay tribute to Salman Ghani, senior journalist, analyst and executive editor of Dunya News Group, an alumnus of Punjab University, for receiving the Presidential Pride of Performance Award. On this occasion, Senior Journalists Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami, Sajjad Mir, Dr Mujahid Ali Mansoori, Dr Aslam Dogar, Salman Abid, Director PU Alumni Office Prof Dr Mumtaz Anwar Choudhary, Director SCS Prof Dr Noshina Saleem, Chairperson Department of Public Relations and Advertising Prof Dr Abida Ashraf, Chairperson Department of Digital Media Prof Dr Savera Shami, Chairperson Department of Media and Development Communication Dr Ayesha Ashfaq, faculty members and a large number of students were present.

In his address, Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood said that the PU’s department of Journalism has produced many eminent personalities who are working in the newspapers, radio, TV channels and other walks of life all over the world. He said that Salman Ghani, an alumnus of PU, is impartial analyst, hardworking and honest person. He said that today’s students must follow the footsteps of Salman Ghani and make the name of the country and the nation bright. Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami said that it is good to see a person from a middle class family like Salman Ghani succeeding in the field of journalism. He said that politics and journalism should respect and tolerate each other’s opinions. He said that a reporter should describe what he sees while the analyst can give his opinion. He said that we must express our opinion freely, but the choice of words should also be taken into consideration. He said that freedom of expression does not mean that you should promote fake news. Sajjad Mir said that it is not easy to do journalism with honesty like Salman Ghani in today’s era. He said that every sector in Pakistan is falling down, in such a situation; tall people like Salman Ghani are example for our sector. Mujahid Ali Mansoori said that Salman Ghani has been a good student who knows the art of taking students and teachers together. Dr Aslam Dogar said that it is a great thing for a person who started the journey of journalism from the CharPai of Okara to receive the Presidential Award for his hard work, dedication and honesty. Salman Abid said that Salman Ghani knows the art of analyzing different aspects of the news, very well. He said that Salman Ghani definitely criticizes the work of others but does not ridicule anyone. Dr Noshina Saleem said that doing journalism in Pakistan is not an easy task. Journalists have been facing difficulties in every democratic and non-democratic period, she added. Dr Abida Ashraf said that Salman Ghani enjoys a universal personality and without him the journalism department of PU is incomplete. Savera Shami said that there was a time when the journalism department of PU was the introduction of Salman Ghani but now PU Journalism department is known due to his contributions. Dr Ayesha Ashfaq said that Salman Ghani has always done credible journalism and he is a star of Pakistani journalism. Salman Ghani said that he is grateful to PU VC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood and School of Communication Studies for the beautiful ceremony in his honor. He said that PU is a national university in which students from every province of Pakistan come to study. He said that PU is not only an academic institution but political consciousness is also given to the young generation here. He said that voices have always been raised from PU for the promotion of democracy and Islam. He dedicated his presidential award to journalist fraternity. Later, PU VC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood and Dr Noshina Saleem presented souvenirs to Salman Ghani.