PESHAWAR: Provincial Minister for Information and Public Relations Shah Farman has stressed the need for establishing better relations with the people and governments of the neighbouring countries to improve living standard in the region.

He was talking to a delegation of Indian journalists and members of the Cultural Heritage Council here on Tuesday.

Mr Farman said all regional countries needed to put aside their differences and work collectively for welfare of their people.

The delegates discussed with the minister cultural activities and matters of mutual interest.

Members of the Cultural Heritage Council included Ibrahim Zia, Mohammad Anwar, Shakeel Waheedullah and Director Culture, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Behramand Khan.

The information minister said that PTI-led provincial government was taking steps to promote cultural activities in the province to show to the world that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were peaceful, hospitable and hardworking.

Mr Farman criticised the media for what he said portraying a different picture of the people of the region.

He said that the provincial government was trying to take possession of the house of Indian actor Dilip Kumar and declare it a cultural heritage.

The minister regretted that in India, the political election campaigns were built on antiPakistan rhetoric, which worked to put fur apart the peoples of the two countries.

He said election campaigns in Pakistan never focused on India to get votes. -Bureau