‘Journalists’ welfare will not be compromised’

LAHORE – The journalist community’s welfare will not be compromised but some negative forces in the community were doing propaganda against the present Lahore Press Club (LPC) council, LPC President Sarmad Bashir said on Sunday.
He was speaking at the LPC Annual Lunch hosted in honour of club members and their families at the Journalist Housing Society, Harbanspura. Punjab University (PU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Mujahid Kamran graced the occasion as chief guest.
Bashir said that during the last two years, along with the governing body members, he had achieved remarkable success, as the Journalist Housing Colony’s entire development work has been completed. The LPC president said that Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif has approved the summary for allotment of 295 plots in the newly-constructed F-Block of the housing society.
Bashir said that allotment forms would be distributed amongst LPC members within the next three days and journalists would have to attach a draft worth Rs 35,000 along with an affidavit and copies of their computerised national identity cards (CNIC).
The LPC president informed the audience that 78 kanals land earmarked for a park has been increased to 90 kanals while its landscaping has already been initiated besides developing a lake in the park. He said that a modern community centre, including a school, mosque and religious seminary would be constructed in the colony and the Beachonhouse School System would continue to provide admissions to 10 students at half fees every year.
Bashir said that the federal government would arrange a Rs 1.4 million soft loan at an interest rate ranging from 2 to 4 percent in addition to subsidising the prices of residential plots up to Rs 0.2 million for each allottee. He said that last year, 26 kanals were retrieved from land grabbers during a special anti-encroachment drive.
The LPC president vowed that he would never lay down his house’s foundation unless other club members complete construction of their houses. He said that construction of houses is going on in full-swing and over 100 houses would be completed until the year end. Bashir paid glowing tributes to Dr Kamran for producing over 100 PhDs every year for the last three years in the PU’s entire history.
He said that by promoting the culture of research and knowledge generation, the VC has also succeeded in securing second position for the largest and oldest seat of higher learning amongst the country’s varsities while the PU also achieved the top position amongst universities in Lahore according to the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC) criteria.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kamran said that the print and electrnic media should use its influence to compel the country’s political leadership for allotting at least 4 percent of the national GDP for educational promotion. The VC said that various organs of the print and electronic media play a pivotal role in shaping opinion of the general public and rulers. He said that the media should continuously highlight the urgent need for allocating requisite funds for the education sector for improving the socio-economic conditions of citizens.
Dr Kamran regretted that not even a single government had realised the vital importance of education for national development and reconstruction. He said that creating and spreading new knowledge is necessary if the nation wants to live an honourable and prosperous life in the 21st centaury. The VC said that Pakistan, with a population of 175 million, spends a meager percentage of around 2 percent of its GDP of Rs 170 billion on education against 5 to 7 percent by developed countries.
He said that Pakistan is included amongst the last four countries including Chad, Ecuador and Equatorial Guinea, which spend the lowest percentage of their GDP on education. Dr Kamran said that today the nation is suffering dire consequences due to the neglect shown towards the education sector, while our neighboring countries are moving ahead.
The Thai government extends Rs 1 billion educational loans to students, which are recovered after 15 years. He said the present administration has also raised varsity research funding from Rs 4 million in the past to Rs 50 million in the present budget for increasing research activities. The VC urged people to vote for politicians who promise to spend at least 4 percent of the country’s total GDP on education.
LPC members and their families appreciated the club council members’ performance and thanked them for working for their welfare.