Press Release
KARACHI: Syed Irfan Ali Taqvi, a journalist, social activist, and founding chairman of the Journalist Scholar Forum, was awarded a Ph.D. in Mass Communication at the 71st meeting of the Graduate and Research Management Council of the Federal Urdu University.
Dr Irfan completed his research, titled “Decline of Progressive Journalism: Causes and Motives in the Context of Pakistan (1947–2016),” under the supervision of Dr Auj e Kamal, editor of Dunya-e-Adab and former chairman of the department of Mass Communication.
Speaking to reporters, Dr Irfan said factors such as authoritarian governance, the feudal system, conservatism, and so-called religious and sectarian supremacy had fostered provocative trends and intolerance in society. He added that restrictions on freedom of speech and writing had hindered the promotion of a progressive approach.
“Let alone promoting ideas like progressivism, enlightenment, and rationalism, these terms have also become taboo,” he noted.
Dr Irfan expressed his intention to publish his thesis in book form to make the research accessible to the general public, including intellectuals, researchers, journalists, writers, and students, with the aim of fostering greater social understanding.
