FGP calls for free, independent, responsible media on 'World Press Freedom Day'

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2026) On World Press Freedom Day, Freedom Gate Prosperity (FGP) CEO Muhammad Anwar urged protection of press freedom, wider public access to verified information and stronger support for responsible journalism in the digital era.

He stated that one of the defining challenges of modern times was the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation and manipulated content through digital platforms. The most effective response to fake news, he said, is not censorship or suppression of speech, but the timely release of accurate, credible, and publicly accessible information.

Anwar emphasized that truth remained the strongest antidote to falsehood. When official data, records and facts are hidden, delayed or difficult to access, rumors quickly fill the vacuum, he added. Transparency, he noted, is the best safeguard against deception, while secrecy often fuels distrust and confusion.

He introduced a guiding framework for the future of journalism: FIRM Media – Free, Independent, Responsible Media.

According to him, the media must remain free to investigate and report without fear and responsible for maintaining professional ethics, factual accuracy, and public trust.

He added that responsible journalism required source verification, fact-checking, balanced reporting, prompt correction of errors and a clear distinction between news, opinion and propaganda.

In an age where speed often overtakes accuracy, credibility has become the most valuable asset of any media institution, he added.

The CEO of FGP further stated that Freedom of Information was not merely a legal right, but a cornerstone of democratic accountability. When citizens can access verified information, they become active participants in public life rather than passive consumers of narratives. An informed public is the first defense against manipulation, he said.

He also called for stronger protection of journalists who continue to face harassment, threats, violence and economic pressure while carrying out their professional responsibilities. A society that values freedom, he said, must also value the safety, dignity, and independence of its journalists, he said and added that, on this World Press Freedom Day, Freedom Gate Prosperity reaffirmed its commitment to democratic values, civic awareness, transparency and media freedom. He urged the government institutions, media organizations, civil society and citizens to collectively uphold the principles of FIRM Media, adding that a well-informed nation is stronger, freer, and more prosperous.

Concluding his remarks, he said that by opening the gates of information societies can close the doors to falsehood and protect the foundations of liberty and progress.