Gilgit Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah has said that his government was determined to promote and strengthen media in the region for development.
He stated this while talking to the office bearers of newly formed Gilgit Baltistan Journalists Association (GBJA) led by its chairman Akbar Hussain, which called on him here. President of the Association, Karim Madad, Vice Chairman Rashid Arshad and General Secretary Shafqat Hussain, governing body member Rizwan Mirza, Vice President Alam Noor, Joint Secretary Ali Sher, Finance Secretary Manzoor Hussain and other office bearers were also present on the occasion.
Syed Medhi Shah welcomed the delegation and appreciated the journalists of Rawalpindi and Islamabad for establishing a platform for the welfare of the journalists from Gilgit Baltistan. He assured the GBJA of his full support within available resources. He told the delegation that the information department had been upgraded and Rs 25 million had been allocated for providing equipments to the department, including vehicles, computers, to facilitate the journalists and disseminate information to the general public about the policies and development activities being under taken for the welfare of the people. He added that the journalists of Gilgit Baltistan would be given training opportunities in other provinces to help media persons interact with other journalists of the country.
Syed Mehdi Shah added that for capacity building of the journalists from Gilgit Baltistan, efforts would be made for their visits abroad. He also assured the delegation that he would soon arrange their meeting with the new federal minister for information and broadcasting after the formation of the cabinet, adding that he would personally attend the oath taking ceremony of the GBJA in Islamabad.
