When five information ministers of SAARC nations meet early next week, among the various issues to ponder over will be the programme code that will be a big draw after Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee inaugurates the two-day meet on November 10.The code drawn for SAARC members reads almost like the programme code drawn for Doordarshan: News coverage must be accurate and report the facts in a fair, impartial and unbiased manner; images of, or interviews with, bereaved people and survivors and witnesses of traumatic incidents within the SAARC region should be treated with sensitivity.The code is part of model guidelines drawn for trans-national satellite broadcasting in the SAARC region and spells out in detail on programme, news and advertising content. For example, under good taste and decency, the code states sexual matters should be treated with good taste and decency keeping in mind the tradition within the region; nudity of either sex should be handled with discretion.At an informal level, India is expected to take up with Pakistan issues like free movement of journalists between the two countries. New Delhi may also take up the issue of lifting the current ban on Indian films and artistes performing there, sources said. A group of singers and filmmakers had earlier complained to I&B Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on the lack of access to Pakistan while artistes from there were welcome here.
