ISLAMABAD: The PPP government is committed to provide better working conditions to journalists and the proposed setting up of the Victims’ Fund for them would be an important step in this direction, said Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rahman on Friday.

She was talking to a delegation of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), which met her to apprise her of the issues journalists are facing, particularly the non-implementation of the Seventh Wage Board Award.

The delegation demanded that the Award, which was pending for the last seven years, should be implemented. Sherry Rahman assured the delegation of the government’s complete support in this regard. She said: “Holding the stakeholders” conference on Freedom of Information within six weeks of being in the government shows our commitment to freedom of media and the well-being of journalists.”

The delegation appreciated the minister for her efforts towards establishment of the “Victims’ Fund”. The minister took serious notice of non-payment of salaries to some journalists. She told the delegation that she had already issued instructions to officials of the information ministry to take up the issue with the relevant newspapers to ensure that salaries were paid on time.

“No false cases will be registered against journalists in future and the fabricated cases registered by the previous government against journalists will be withdrawn immediately. We assure the journalists’ community of our complete support and they are free to report and criticise the government without any fear,” responded the minister when the issue of such cases was raised by the delegation.The delegation included President PFUJ Huma Ali, General Secretary Mazhar Abbas, C R Shamsi, Fauzia Shahid and Kamal Azfar.
Source: The News
Date:5/17/2008