KARACHI: Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister Ms Sharmila Farooqui has asked Sindh government to provide health insurance to journalists including reporters, photographers and cameramen performing duties in the field.
The journalists are soldiers of media organizations because they are performing duties with dedications in risky places, therefore, it is the need of hour to provide them health insurance cover so that they could discharge their duties peacefully, she said in a statement here on Sunday.
The advisor also asked the government to take strict security measures for media persons. ÃSeveral journalists have lost their lives and many others recieved injuries in recent terror attacks across the country. Some journalists were also injured in the recent Karachi blasts on the eve of Ashura Day and Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), which is the matter of great concern.Ã
Time has come now for the Sindh government to protect media persons by providing them special security and health insurance cover. The journalists also cover the programs of the government organizations in all trouble situations. Hence, it is mandatory for the government to give them relief in shape of helath insurance cover as the global war on terrorism has started hitting media persons,Ã she said.
The advisor also called for security of media organizations so that editors, subeditors and other staff could perform their duties peacefully. “Media plays vital role in the development of the country as it apprises the government and other social welfare organizations about emergence of new technologies, trade and investment opportunities,Ã she said.
Sharmila expressed sympathies to the journalists who received injuries in Friday bomb blast in Karachi and assured them that the government would not leave them alone.
The PPP government under the dynamic leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and as per vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto is ensuring freedom of expressions and independence of media, she maintained.
Source: Daily Times
Date:2/8/2010
