CREATION of awareness and dissemination of information are key elements in the fight against Coronavirus and it is understood that this onerous responsibility cannot be discharged without fullest possible cooperation of both print and electronic media. However, journalists are performing their professional responsibilities at the risk of their lives and media organizations too are staying in the arena despite financial constraints caused by the economic recession. In this backdrop, Punjab Government deserves credit for announcing a relief package for media workers that would surely encourage them to remain on the frontline in the fight against coronavirus.
Giving details of the special relief package, Punjab’s young and active Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said that the provincial government would ensure early payment of dues to the media houses, keeping in view the delay in salaries to the media workers because of an economic slowdown after the Coronavirus spread. The government would pay Rs 100,000 if a journalist got infected with virus during performance of duty. The package also envisages payment of one million rupee compensation along with Rs 10,000 lifelong pension to a widow in case of death of journalist because of the contagion. The provincial government is also preparing a summary for inclusion of media houses in tax exemptions in view of the prevailing situation. The prudently devised package would hopefully motivate both the workers and media houses to continue working with missionary zeal to complement efforts of the Government in dealing with the situation arising out of the spread of the virus. Prompt payment of dues and tax exemption would also serve as an incentive against workers’ lay off besides ensuring timely payment of salaries. While appreciating the Punjab Government for this media-friendly package, we would urge the Federal Government as well as other provincial governments to follow the suit as journalists and media houses all over the country are facing similar problems and issues.
