Achievements and Work

Developed 13 Research Papers including:

1 - Thematic papers on Livelihood Rights of Peasants and Rural Workers (SAP-PK)
2 - Food Security and Agriculture in Pakistan (South-Asian Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK)
3 - Policy dossier on Land Rights and Peasants’ Economic justice (SAP-PK)
4 - Farmers' Water rights and Politics (SAP-PK)

5- Issue paper, on Land, Peasants and Poverty: A Case for Equitable Land Reforms in Pakistan. Contents of the paper included; decline in agricultural production, land consumed by infra-structural development activities, water scarcity, population growth, below subsistence farming, farmers’ indebtedness, tenancy rights and land rights, issues of food security, and towards an equitable land policy. (Center for Democratic Governance, Islamabad).

6- A 'People's Manifesto' in the wake of forthcoming general elections (ActionAid-Pakistan)

– Developed and designed promotion material i.e. voters guidelines, booklets, brochures, voter cards, etc. for voters’ education during local government elections, 2005, for the Grassroots Devolution Support Program of Swiss Development Corporation.
SAMAR is in the process of developing a ‘People’s Manifesto’ in the wake of forthcoming general elections for ActionAid-Pakistan for further discussion and debate with political parties.

4 – SAMAR is also developing two policy dossiers on i) Land Rights and Peasants’ Economic justice, ii) Water Distribution and Politics with the assistance of SAP-PK. The documents will later provide the basis for policy advocacy under Strengthening Democratic Governance Program.

Executive Director: Mr Mazhar Arif is executive director of the organization. He has 30 years of experience of journalism, contributed a large number of articles on political, cultural and social issues in English, Urdu and Seraiki (regional) languages. He is member of Council of Complaints for electronic media established under PEMRA Ordinance. He has authored a number of research papers published during the past five years. He has 12 years experience of work with national NGOs. He has also worked as Director Public Relations to the President of Pakistan (1994-1997).

Lectures: The executive director of SAMAR has delivered lectures on ‘media ethics’, ‘media and democracy’, media sociology in Pakistan’ and ‘economics of journalism’ in different universities of the country including ZABIST and Federal Urdu University, Karachi, Sindh University, Jamshoro, Bahria University and Air University, Islamabad, Zakriya University, Multan, Peshawar University and Sargodha University. He was also member of faculty for an international course held at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, and delivered lectures on ‘media and critical consciousness’.

Publications
published a book "Sahafat aur Jamhoriat: Ehd bah Ehd", archiving history of newspapers, editors and journalists who struggled for democracy and freedom of press (2017). Published fortnightly online magazine “Media Mirror” to educate journalists and citizens on media ethics and transparent and responsible media. Co-publisher with FES and Citizens’ Initiative on Media Issues (CIMI) of a 370 pages book entitled “Report and Recommendations of the Media Commission appointed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.” Published quarterly “Media Review” in Urdu for four years.

1- Publishing fortnightly online magazine Media Mirror. Purpose of “Media Mirror” is to educate journalists and citizens on media ethics and transparent and responsible media. Media Mirror publishes news, views from not only Pakistan but also regionally and globally. 30 e-magazines have been published so far which are accessible at:

2- Co-publisher with FES and Citizens’ Initiative on Media Issues (CIMI) of a 370 pages book entitled “Report and Recommendations of the Media Commission appointed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.” (Two editions 2013 and 2014)

3- Publication of quarterly “Media Review” in Urdu. The purpose of the publication was to educate journalists, civil society activists and citizens on media ethics, media literacy, political economy of media and media and democracy. SAMAR published quarterly review for four years. (2009-2013)

4- SAMAR monitored and analyzed Balochistan’s local government election coverage by English and Urdu newspapers and national and regional TV channels in Sindhi, Saraiki, Punjabi and Pashto languages. An analytical report was published.

5- Monitored and analyzed coverage of “General Elections 2013” by six news channels (English and Urdu) keeping in view the Election Commission of Pakistan’s code of ethics for news media. Analytical reports were published. (2013)

6- Strengthening Democratic Media in Pakistan: Promoting media literacy and plural and democratic media by publishing quarterly ‘Media Review’ in Urdu language

7- Forming Citizens Media Watch Groups in eight cities of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to promote media literacy.