Our understanding is that to have a dialogue within present milieu in Pakistan, where the spaces for democratic contests have already shrunk to alarming extents, it's essential that we let people speak regardless of their ideological standpoints, incumbent identities and political loyalties. That's why we are much focused on comprehending things, brainstorming, for better action, rather than merely pushing their lobbyist positioning. 

Traditionally, this task is rendered to be academicians and intellectuals' burden, leaving out the outcome to be 'propagated' by journalists. In the course of our operations, too, we frequently come across such expectations which are comfortable taking media bodies as PR agencies. JRC, on the other hand, seeks to create sites of debate equally within and outside the journalist community. Hence, performing the role of a real communicator and bridging the information gap among diverse expertise and orientations. We have to bring them to our mainstream agenda by initiating dialogues and break away with distance existed within sections of society. That's the broader frame work within which we operate as was witnessed in the JRC South Asian Dialogue on Media, Peace and Development. This issue of Dialogue takes you right down to its five working sessions that were held there: 

(i) Challenges of development; 
(ii) State and media in Pakistan; 
(iii) Social role of media; 
(iv) Peace and conflict in South Asia, and; 
(v) Combating sectarian intolerance: Peace strategies.

Here, Dr Akmal Hussain takes up the governance crisis and as to how notions of power have shaped it; and how poverty and growth issues can be remedied that are linked with a lasting peace in the sub-continent. Dr. Arshed Wahid analyses the functioning of NGOs _ their weaknesses and strengths _ in Pakistan to what he says the self-corrective criticism. Madhavi Malagoda from Sri Lanka is all for 'small is beautiful' and suggests to use small scale technologies appropriate especially to our rural areas, rather than thoughtlessly following the western models of development. Sunethra explains the dynamism of culture citing Sri Lankan experience. We also learn about state and media relations in Pakistan where I. A. Rehman gives perspective on state control of the press and Saqlain Imam is critical of ruling elite and their collusion with the Multi-National Corporations. Dr Mehdi Hassan and Aziz Mazhar ask journalists to build their professional capacity and to highlight erstwhile neglected areas. As for peace issues, Azad Kausari explores plurality of the sub-continent implying a conflict results from the dis-appropriation of multi-cultural societies. We also read about the political economy of peace and conflict as propounded by Amjad Bhatti and how they express economic deprivation and well-being of the South Asian people. The question of how can they be mobilized is taken up by Omar Asghar Khan, while Beena Sarwar criticizes Yum-e-Takbeer celebrations and the government directives to newspaper editors not to report its opposition. 

Some 5 journalists coming from different regions and perspectives participated in three days' discussions. Also, there were delegates from Sri Lanka, while our Indian counterparts unfortunately were unable to make it to the dialogue because of visa problems.

This huge congregation could not have been possible without the very active collaboration from the Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ), the Press Club (LPC) and other friends. Their partnership enabled us to arrange it wholly with indigenous resources; that's an achievement in its own right. JRC would also like other groups involved in the process of social change to follow the path and try to tape maximum local resources available while conducting their programmes - to have trust of the communities concerned. 

To end this note with optimism, JRC's exercise  is an ample proof to show a dialogue is still possible  in