MUZAFFARABAD:The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Azad Jammu and Kashmir state branch, with the Support of International Committee of the Red Cross Pakistan (ICRC), organized a media seminar on ‘Making the media’s role effective for risk awareness and promotion of safer behaviour’ here Tuesday.
Journalists from print, electronic and digital media along with representatives from Disaster Management Authority, Social Welfare Department, Education, Civil Defence, the legal community and Pakistan Girl Guides, among other stakeholders, attended the event.
The seminar was aimed to strengthen cooperation among the PRCS, the ICRC, the media and other stakeholders so that risk awareness messages could reach the public more widely. journalist reiterated their commitment to continued joint efforts to protect people living near the LoC from drifted explosive.
PRCS Coordinator Risk Awareness and Safer Behaviour (RASB) Yasir Kazmi briefed participants on the different types of explosive remnants of war, the risks associated with them and safety measures, using presentations, documentaries and awareness videos. Besides, Programs Manager Naveed Akhter Awan gave detailed presentations on ongoing projects and programmes.
The objectives, activities and achievements of the PRCS’s RASB programme were also highlighted. Participants were told that the programme is working to raise awareness in at-risk communities, encourage safer behavior and reduce the likelihood of accidents involving explosive remnants of war.
The importance of responsible journalism was also underscored. Participants were urged to prioritise accurate, credible and verified information when reporting sensitive events, avoid unverified and misleading reports, and publish or broadcast public safety messages responsibly.
At the end of the seminar, commemorative shields were presented to selected journalists and others who had served the RASB programme, in recognition of their contribution.