Abdul Wali Khan University provided a great opportunity to media industry by organizing a National Debate on the Role of Media in which well known journalists, analysts, media experts and academicians discussed the contemporary issues and challenges faced by Pakistani media.

The debate which started yesterday lasted for two days and was highly applauded by the media personnel. Todays sessions were attended by the leading stars of Pakistani media like Raheem ullah Yousufzai, Ayaz Khan, Khurshid Nadeem, Farrukh Sohail Goindi, Rehmat Shah Afridi, and Saima Batool. The event started by a discussion on challenges and issues of online journalism. The session was hosted by Shiraz Paracha in which the experts underlined how the new media is transforming the traditional journalism. The majority opinion was that the new media provides a platform to the journalists but at the same time it needs reformation / regulations in order to ensure transparency. The second session hosted by Ayaz Khan from Express Media Group, generated a hot debate on the problems being faced by the journalists and the media owners. The last session about the columnists' role in opinion making remained highly interactive. The host Farrukh Sohail Goindi rightly pointed out that nowadays mostly the columns are based on guesses or personal opinion and lacks the research based facts and figures.

The two days National Debate on the Role of Medida was concluded with the remarks of worthy Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Ihsan Ali, who appreciated the participation of guests in the event.