While addressing an international conference on security of journalists in Islamabad on Tuesday, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Minister Pervaiz Rashid said that the government is committed in providing security to working journalists and media houses in the country.
The information minister said media has a huge responsibility of conveying facts to the people and creating awareness. He said the task has become more difficult for media persons in the prevailing circumstances. He said conducive environment is a pre-requisite for media persons to perform their duty without fear and intimidation.
The minister said the government has taken several steps for wellbeing of journalists’ community to provide enabling environment to them to perform their provision of duties. He said unfortunately in recent years Pakistan has become a dangerous place for journalists to perform their duties. He said the federal government is committed to provide security to working journalists and media houses. He said a committee has been formed for this purpose and its first meeting is being held.
Rashid said the government has announced a financial assistance of one million rupees for martyred and 0.3 million rupees for injured and disabled. He said a journalist endowment fund has also been established for welfare of the journalists. He said the government has arranged a number of training courses for journalists to enhance their capacity for performing their professional duties. He urged the media to play its role in ending the atmosphere of fear and despair from the society.
