Karachi: The Sindh chief minister directed the Finance Department on Thursday to release Rs100million immediately for development works in those blocks of Scheme 42 in Hawkesbay where plots had been allotted to journalists by balloting.

In a meeting with the newly elected office-bearers and members of the Governing Body of the Karachi Press Club (KPC), Syed Qaim Ali Shah said the matter of releasing the remaining Rs100million would be decided soon.

The meeting was informed that the government had so far released Rs52million as cost of land out of Rs252 million, while Rs200 million was yet to be paid for the plots allotted in the ballot held before the last.

The meeting was told that 800 plots measuring 400 sq-yards each had been allotted to old and new enrolled members of the KPC in the last ballot.

The chief minister directed the Board of Revenue that the land should be transferred to the Lyari Development Authority (LDA) and the matter of determining the land price finalised within a few days.

With regard to the annual grant for the KPC, the meeting was told that so far Rs2.5million had been released. The chief minister ordered the release of a grant of Rs3 million instead of Rs2.5 million for the press club.

He vowed that the issue of lease of land/plots would be taken up with the Ministry of Defence.

He also directed the CCPO Karachi to ensure security outside the KPC.

With regard to a proposed health insurance policy for journalists, he directed the Finance Department to go through the proposal and come up with a proposal of its own in this regard.

Shah said the government fully believed in freedom of the media, adding that journalists were playing a vital role through their constructive criticism.

He said the KPC members had always played a positive role in the restoration of democracy in the country.

President KPC Tahri Hasan presented a charter of demands and problems facing the press club.
Source: The News
Date:2/18/2011