Islamabad, Dec 1: US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson has urged the Pakistan Government to lift curbs on the media and release all political and civil society detainees.

"We urge the Government of Pakistan to lift all remaining restrictions, especially those on the media and release all detainees," she said while addressing the National Media Conference organised by the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA).

Patterson praised the Pakistani media for being vibrant.

She said a free media was important for the growth of democracy and it was incumbent both on the government and media to maintain the freedom of press.

Patterson praised President Pervez Musharraf for giving freedom to the media in Pakistan and said the freedom enjoyed by the media was irreversible.

She asked the government to ensure the people’s access to information.

Patterson said curbs on the media would also impact the Pakistani economy since the media was a source of revenue for the government also, and had helped the economy grow.

"In the US, freedom of the press was part of the Constitution," the Daily Times quoted Patterson, as saying. (ANI)