ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib Friday said the Federal Government was committed to resolve the problems being faced by sports journalists on priority under the directive of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“Imran Khan started his career as a sportsman and that is why he is well aware of the problems of sports journalists,” the minister said while addressing a ceremony held here in connection with the World Sports Journalists Day.
The prime minister and his team, he said, were striving to address the grievances of journalist community. Consultations were underway with the relevant ministries and provincial governments for devising an active plan for the purpose, he added.
He said it was the foremost priority of Information Ministry to take steps for the well-being of media persons. The working journalists under certain criteria would be accommodated in the Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme, he added.
He said the government was contemplating to give health cards to the journalists to enable them to avail healthcare facilities for themselves and their families. Similarly, the proposal to incorporate journalists in the Kamyab Jawan Programme was under consideration to provide self-employment opportunities to the young journalists, he added.
He said the government was taking all possible steps to protect journalists and media professionals from all forms of abuse, violence and exploitation at the hands of any person, institution (private or public) or authority.
The Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2021 had been tabled in the National Assembly after approval from the Federal Cabinet, he added. Farrukh Habib said the role of sports journalists had always been instrumental in establishing the image of sportsmen as legends by giving them prominent coverage in newspapers and TV channels.
Comments are closed.