ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday visited the National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad and inaugurated its newly developed website, terming digitalisation essential for modern media institutions.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the launching ceremony, the minister congratulated the NPC management on the successful launch of the website and said the initiative would improve transparency, record management and administrative affairs. He said such steps would help make the National Press Club a model press club in Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Tarar also announced that a modern digital lab would be established at the NPC within two months. He said journalists needed to be equipped with modern technology, artificial intelligence, digital media tools and new journalistic skills to meet contemporary professional requirements.<\/p>\n
The federal minister said the government was seriously working on matters related to the welfare of journalists and media workers, including job protection, timely payment of dues, housing issues, restoration of health cards, special grants and other welfare schemes.<\/p>\n
He said efforts would also be made to provide digital skills training to journalists and to explore an arrangement with a comprehensive educational institution for this purpose. The government, he added, would extend all possible support for modern training so journalists could meet international standards of journalism.<\/p>\n
Referring to the financial difficulties being faced by the media industry, Tarar said the government was aware of the situation and was making efforts to ensure that media houses pay salaries and pending dues to their employees on time. He stressed that if any media organisation had to lay off employees, a comprehensive policy should be in place to protect journalists and their families.<\/p>\n
He proposed that all relevant institutions, journalist bodies and media owners should sit together and prepare a joint plan for job security and employment stability in the media sector.<\/p>\n
The minister said freedom of the media and strong print and electronic media were basic requirements of any democratic society. He maintained that the government believed in media freedom and would continue to play its role in resolving the problems being faced by journalists.<\/p>\n
Tarar said the strength of print and electronic media promoted balanced information and responsible journalism in society. He described the demand for restoration of the journalists\u2019 housing quota as justified and assured the NPC that he would immediately take up the matter with the relevant authorities.<\/p>\n
He also assured full cooperation on the restoration of health cards for journalists, the special grant for the press club and other welfare projects. He said the National Press Club Islamabad was the country\u2019s most important journalistic platform, and its development, provision of modern facilities and financial stability were among the government\u2019s priorities.<\/p>\n
The minister appreciated the recent elections of the National Press Club, calling them pleasant, transparent and a fine reflection of democratic traditions. He said the acceptance of the results by both groups with goodwill showed unity and maturity within the journalist community.<\/p>\n
Tarar reaffirmed that the government would continue practical measures in consultation with the NPC administration for resolving the issues of journalists and promoting the media sector.<\/p>\n
Earlier, NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial welcomed the federal minister and said journalists had been facing long-standing problems, including the housing quota, health cards, press club grant, payment of dues and other basic issues. He urged the government to take immediate and practical steps to address them.<\/p>\n
NPC Secretary Dr Furqan Rao briefed the minister in detail about the new website. He said the preparation of the website and digitalisation of members\u2019 records marked an important milestone for the institution. He added that the website would contain complete profiles of members, identity information and professional details, while members would also be able to update their profiles and introductions online. This, he said, would make the administrative system more transparent and effective.<\/p>\n
Finance Secretary Abid Abbasi highlighted the financial pressures facing the media industry and said protection of journalists\u2019 employment, timely payment of salaries, financial assistance for the press club and special grants were the need of the hour.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, the NPC president and secretary announced honorary membership of the press club for the federal minister. At the conclusion of the event, Tarar was presented the honorary membership certificate by the National Press Club.<\/p>\n
The minister also distributed certificates among participants who completed a month-long digital training programme organised by the NPC.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was attended by PIO Madam Raeesa Adil, NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial, Secretary Dr Furqan Rao, Finance Secretary Abid Abbasi, Senior Vice President Ehtishamul Haq, Vice President Bashir Chaudhry, Joint Secretary Chaudhry Javed Bhagat, Syed Aoun Shirazi, Shakeela Jalil, governing body members Ayesha Naz and Mudassar Lang, senior journalists Haji Muhammad Nawaz Raza, Shakeel Qarar, Shehryar Khan, Tariq Mahmood Sameer and Dr Saadia Kamal, along with a large number of media workers and press club members.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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