ISLAMABAD, Wednesday, November 5, 2025 (WNP): A high-level delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Wednesday visited the headquarters of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) in Islamabad to explore avenues for strengthening media cooperation, including news exchange, journalist training, and content sharing between the two state-run organizations.
The delegation, led by Ahmad Norouzi, Vice President of IRIB and Head of IRIB’s World Service, included Abbas Mohammadnejad, Director General for International Affairs; Morteza Shamsi, Director of Sahar Universal Network; and Ali Mohammed Nafchi, Head of IRIB Balochistan, Iran.
Managing Director of APP, Muhammad Asim Khichi, welcomed the delegation and briefed them on the news agency’s operations, extensive network of bureaus and correspondents across Pakistan, and its multilingual news services in English, Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, Sindhi, Balochi, Pashto, and Saraiki.
Highlighting APP’s global outreach, Khichi said the organization maintains news exchange agreements with over 45 international news agencies and provides a wide range of services, including reporting, features, diplomatic and global coverage, video news, and social media content.
He also briefed the Iranian delegation on the existing news exchange between APP and Iran’s IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency), and invited IRIB to present a detailed proposal to formalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under APP’s rules and policies to strengthen bilateral media collaboration.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahmad Norouzi said the IRIB, as Iran’s principal national broadcaster, offers a robust and credible news service that plays a vital role in shaping the country’s media landscape. He expressed keen interest in expanding cooperation with APP through regular news exchange, journalist training, and media content sharing, emphasizing that such initiatives could deepen understanding and strengthen people-to-people connections between Pakistan and Iran.
Ali Mohammed Nafchi, IRIB’s Head for Balochistan, underscored that collaboration between the two media organizations would help bring the people of Pakistan and Iran closer beyond their geographical boundaries.
Abbas Mohammadnejad, IRIB’s Director General for International Affairs, noted that Iranian audiences have a growing interest in high-quality multimedia coverage of Pakistan’s political, social, and cultural affairs, including live streaming and visual storytelling.
Following the discussions, the IRIB delegation toured various sections of APP, including the studios and data center, where they were briefed on the agency’s modern news production and distribution systems.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to enhancing professional cooperation and promoting stronger media linkages between Pakistan and Iran.
