PESHAWAR: A delegation of the Press Information Department (PID) Peshawar visited the Peshawar Press Club and presented a newly compiled collection of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s speeches spanning 1906 to 1948, while discussing challenges faced by journalists and measures to strengthen coordination between the media and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The delegation, led by PID Deputy Director Romana Asad Khan, met press club office-bearers and senior journalists to exchange views on professional difficulties, logistical constraints and institutional support for the journalism community.
During the visit, Romana Asad Khan presented a copy of Consolidated Speeches of Quaid-e-Azam to the press club leadership on behalf of the Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications (DEMP).
The publication brings together historical addresses of Pakistan’s founder, collected from archival sources including the British Library and India Office Records.
Quaid-e-Azam’s speeches from 1906 to 1948 compiled
The collection has been prepared under the guidance of DEMP Executive Director General Imrana Wazir as part of an initiative to preserve and document the speeches of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
According to the department, the publication represents the first systematic compilation of Jinnah’s public addresses covering the period from 1906 to 1948, drawing on historical records maintained by major archival institutions.
The project seeks to make the speeches more accessible to researchers, historians, students and academic institutions studying the political and constitutional developments that preceded Pakistan’s independence.
Copies of the publication are being distributed to educational institutions across Pakistan, international universities and research centres to facilitate historical scholarship and preserve documentary material associated with the country’s founding.
The collection is also intended to provide researchers with a consolidated reference covering different stages of Jinnah’s political career.
PID delegation discusses journalists’ professional challenges
Alongside the presentation of the historical publication, the visiting officials held discussions with representatives of the Peshawar Press Club about issues affecting working journalists.
The meeting covered operational difficulties, logistical requirements and the need for continued communication between media organisations and federal information authorities.
The delegation assured press club representatives of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s support in addressing professional concerns through relevant institutional channels.
Participants also discussed efforts by Federal Secretary for Information Ashfaq Ahmad Khalil to consolidate federal media offices within the historic Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar.
The initiative is intended to bring related offices under one roof, improve administrative coordination and streamline public communication services.
The discussions highlighted the importance of regular engagement between government information departments and journalists, particularly in addressing practical difficulties encountered by media professionals.
Peshawar Press Club leadership welcomes initiative
Peshawar Press Club President M. Riaz, General Secretary Alamgir Khan and Khyber Union of Journalists (KHUJ) President Kashif ud Din welcomed the delegation and appreciated the effort to preserve Quaid-e-Azam’s speeches.
They also discussed matters concerning the working environment and institutional needs of journalists in Peshawar.
Following the meeting, the press club leadership accompanied the visiting officials on a tour of the facility.
The PID delegation included DEMP Film Editor Shah Khan and Asad Khan, while senior journalists Shamim Shahid, Saif ul Islam Saifi and other press club members attended the interaction.
The visit brought together government information officials and representatives of the local journalism community, with discussions focusing on media coordination, professional support and the preservation of historical records.