ISLAMABAD - In the prevailing scenario, media role in the development of society and as a watchdog has increased many fold and it is need of the hour that the mass communication departments of various universities of Pakistan equip the media students with latest trends and technologies.   Dr Prof Masrur Alam Khan, Director, Centre for Media and Communication Studies (CMCS), International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) stated this in an exclusive interview with TheNation. Recollecting the active role played by the Muslim scholars and journalists in Pakistan Freedom Movement and the emancipation of the Muslims of Sub-continent, Dr Masrur said the media men should inculcate the spirit of their forefathers in their minds to counter the Western media's propaganda and aware the people about the ills in society.      Referring to the 'image crisis' of the Muslim countries in the world media, he said that only dedicated and concerted efforts of the media men could make positive the impression of the Muslim World. However, he said, this was possible only when they are trained on modern and sophisticated lines and for this purpose, he continued, the role of mass communication departments is very important as they are nurseries for journalists. Elaborating the future plans of Center for Media and Communication, Dr Masrur said, "We are ready to provide well-equipped journalists not only to Pakistani media outlets but also to Muslim countries who will be capable to compete with Western media in all respects." Commenting on the strategic importance of the region, Dr Masrur said that due to so many reasons this region has become a flash point and the world media has established their offices for covering the events but unfortunately they are not presenting both sides of the coin to the readers in the nook and corner of the world. Responding to a question, he said that CMC, IIUI had chalk out a comprehensive strategy to impart practical training to the students who in future, he hoped, would play a very important role in awakening the downtrodden masses from slumber of despair. To another query, he said that in the recent students admissions the CMC received a very positive response and a lot of students from all parts of the country have taken admission in the center in BS, MSc and MS progrmmes of media and communication. The CMC has the credit for starting MS programme in media and communication in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).   Appreciating the efforts of President IIUI, Dr Anwaar Saddiqui, for providing foreign qualified staff to CMC, Dr Masrur said he was taking keen interest to equip the Centre with latest media-related equipment.  He further said that establishing a modern studio to train the students for electronic media was also one of the priorities of the University. "The Centre is also planning to establish links with international universities especially in Muslim countries and very soon the IIUI will be providing think-tank to Muslim countries for providing positive guidelines to the respective governments in policy-making", he informed. Elaborating the problems of media in Muslim countries, Dr Masrur said that unfortunately they were blindly following the Western thinkers, as the Muslim countries had no separate identity in the comity of nations as far as media is concerned. The Centre for Media and Communication at International Islamic University has started efforts to form a distinctive identity of Muslim media in the World, he said. Dr Masrur, Ph.D in Communication from Philippines, served in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) for ten years before joining IIUI. He was awarded the Fulbright Research Fellowship Award in 1995-96 and received Best Teacher Award for session 2004-05. He was also one of the pioneers and had served as the Chairman, Department of Mass Communication, Gomal University, DI Khan, established in 1974. Dr Khan, who so far has supervised more than 36 post-graduate dissertations and authored 43 research papers, received ISO 9001:2000 Research Award in 2004.