Says Punjab taking practical steps for welfare of journalist community
Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Sunday declared that the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar is expediting the vaccination process to eradicate corona.
“Front-line role of the media community in different situations during the corona pandemic is laudable and vaccination of journalists’ community has been started in all the districts of the province.”
SACM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan was speaking at the inauguration of corona vaccination drive of journalist community in DC Office Sialkot.
Talking to the media, Dr Firdous said that said the Punjab government is taking practical steps for the welfare of the journalist community, adding that the government is giving media status of the industry which will resolve the problems of the journalist community.
She said the Punjab government has always given priority to the journalists’ community in different projects including Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme and the media men are also accommodated through journalists support fund and journalists colonies.
Dr Firdous said that freedom of the press is part of the PTI’s manifesto and the government is restoring journalism in its true spirit.
The Right to Information Act will be fully implemented and every member of the nation has the right to get all kinds of information for which the Punjab Information Commission is working, she said.
The SACM said the Punjab government has been providing full financial support to the journalists affected by corona and so far Rs 2 crore 49 lakh 39 thousand has been given to the 378 deserving journalists.
In 2020-21, Rs 1 crore 14 lakh 90 thousand were distributed among 212 journalists. She said that Rs 6.15 million was provided to 108 journalists affected by corona.
Dr Firdous said the Punjab government is committed to providing shelter to the journalist community through the journalist colony in each division while the Journalist Protection Bill will help journalists to fulfill their acts and responsibilities in a free and independent manner. She said that media is the eyes and ears of society.
The government is using all-out resources to provide timely corona vaccine to the people however some elements with a negative mindset are doing politics on it.
The SACM said that so far 313,699 healthcare workers have been vaccinated the first dose and 169,145 health care workers have been given the second dose.
She said that 1,749,650 people have been vaccinated the first dose and 392,113 have been vaccinated the second dose against corona.
Collectively, so far a total of 2,638,352 people have been vaccinated against corona and 128,200 people have been vaccinated against corona during the last 24 hours.
She said the PTI has increased the foreign exchange reserves of the country to $23 billion in just two and a half years.
The nation will not forgive the mafia and the government will fulfill its promise of accountability and bring to the country every penny of looted wealth from these looters, concluded the SACM.
