India-Pakistan Scribes Appeal Govts To Slash Defense Spending

New Delhi, May 28, IRNA -- Appealing the governments of India and Pakistan to slash their respective defense spending, a media conclave in Mumbai called for channeling the funds for socioeconomic development in both countries. 'We have talked enough about building peaceful relationships between the countries, now let us concentrate on the real issues affecting the people of both countries,' observed speakers at a media conclave held in Navi Mumbai, business capital of India in Maharashtra state at the fag-end of the Mumbai visit of a 14-member media delegation from Pakistan. 'Increasing tension between India and Pakistan, piling up of arms worth billions of dollars helps only arms merchants from the US and other countries and is not at all in the interest of poverty-stricken India and Pakistan,' said Tahir Hasan Khan, president of the Karachi Press Club which is leading the media delegation of scribes from Karachi and Sindh. 'We (the Pakistan's delegates) have seen homeless people sleeping on the pavements of Mumbai and it is the similar situation in Karachi and other cities there,' he said, adding that the governments of both countries should spend more on poverty alleviation and creating jobs rather than 'mindless spending' on purchase of arms that helps only the western powers 'at the cost of our own people.' Journalists from Mumbai threw pointed questions at the Pakistan media on their opinion and role over the US using Pakistan as its base and strengthening arms buildup in the region. 'It is not just Pakistan, the US has been successfully fooling even India to suit the western super power's arms manufacturers,' said Karamat Ali, Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER). PILER, along with Karachi Press Club, hosted the Indian media delegation's trip to Pakistan in November and also the current visit by the scribes from the neighboring country. 'Let us leave the knotty issues of Kashmir and Siachen to be tackled at government levels. As people we must together concentrate in handling common problems of Roti, Kapda and Makaan (food, clothing and shelter),' Ali said drawing a loud applause. Navi Mumbai Mayor Sagar Naik, who was the chief guest at the conclave hosted by Valuable Group, said he was pained to learn that both India and Pakistan were busy building up massive defences. 'We are erecting high walls of defense while our homes are becoming hollow,' he observed. Indo-Pak peace activist Jatin Desai said it was high time that media from both countries addressed the real issues affecting the neighbors. Since their arrival in Mumbai last week, the Pakistan media delegation has had a hectic schedule in Mumbai meeting Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Home Minister R R Patil, Public Works Minister Chagan Bhujbal, besides participating in seminars, discussions hosted by the Press Club, Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh and Vidhi Mandal Patrakar Sangh. They visited Mumbai's landmarks like the BSE, Gateway of India and had a chat with actor Aamir Khan. The discussions basically focused on increased media cooperation to build lasting peace in the region and improved trade relations which will help create jobs in both countries. The Press Clubs of Mumbai and Karachi have agreed to set up an Information Exchange on their web sites. The 14-member media delegation from Karachi and Hyderabad (Sindh) arrived in Mumbai on May 22nd for a week-long visit. A 22-member delegation from Mumbai Press club had visited Karachi and Hyderabad in November last year. The delegation represents leading newspapers and television channels. 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 the two countries./end