'Media needs to be independent from state'.

ISLAMABAD -- Keeping in view interests of the public at large, the media industry needs to be absolutely independent from the state.

This was pointed out at the launch of the book Pakistan Mein Media Ka Buhran, on Tuesday.

PPP leader Farhatullah Babar said if the media was free to comment and its analysis was taken seriously we would not have faced restrictions placed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Seasoned journalist Ahmed Ali Khan said two well-respected writers authored a much-needed book on the existential crisis being faced by the media industry in Pakistan.

He said this book was a much needed document to understand the media industry today for all those who were interested. Journalists and members of the civil society need this study for future reference of the crisis, he added.

Columnist Dr Nazir Mahmood said it was the first book written in the 21st century on the state of media. It has to be taken as a continuation of the original work done by Zamir Niazi related to Pakistan in the 20th century, he added.

Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan, one of the...